FTC proposes BetterHelp pay $7.8M for sharing health data
By 
Adrianne Appel2023-03-02T21:17:00
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed requiring online counseling service BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million as part of a settlement addressing charges it shared clients’ personal health data with Facebook, Snapchat, and other third parties for advertising purposes.
If the agency’s order against BetterHelp becomes final, it would be the first FTC action that remunerates consumers for violations involving private health data, according to a press release Thursday. The $7.8 million would be used to provide partial refunds to consumers who paid for BetterHelp’s services between August 2017 and December 2020.
The commission voted 4-0 to adopt the proposed order. The FTC will decide whether to make it final after a 30-day public comment period.
Related articles
-
News BriefFTC, HHS warn hospitals over use of online tracking tech
The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Health and Human Services sent letters to approximately 130 hospital systems and telehealth providers regarding potential patient privacy violations and security risks stemming from online tracking technologies.
-
News BriefFTC attorney warns of scrutiny toward AI claims in marketing
The Federal Trade Commission is keeping close watch on companies that use the term “artificial intelligence” when marketing their products.
-
News BriefSens press telehealth firms on alleged sharing of patient data for ads
A bipartisan group of senators is leaning on three telehealth firms accused of tracking and sharing patients’ sensitive personal information with advertising platforms like Google and Facebook.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefU.S. regulators scrutinizing American companies’ transactions with Chinese firms
Recent enforcement actions by U.S. agencies overseeing customs payments and export control laws indicate increased scrutiny of business transactions between U.S. and Chinese companies.
-
News BriefSEC reportedly denying record percentage of whistleblower claims
The Securities and Exchange Commission is awarding far fewer whistleblower claims, according to Bloomberg Law, which noted the commission denied awards for the entire period between April and July, the longest stretch in the program’s history.
-
News BriefTrump’s firing of FTC commissioner violated federal law, court finds
The firing of a Democrat commissioner of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission by President Donald Trump was illegal, according to a federal judge’s ruling last week.