US FTC Sues Hims & Hers for Sharing User Health Data with Meta and Snap
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), alongside Los Angeles County and Utah, has filed a lawsuit against telehealth company Hims & Hers, alleging that it shared users' sensitive health data with online advertisers such as Meta Platforms and Snap. The FTC claims the platform violated privacy promises by transmitting user information to third parties for advertising purposes. Additionally, the agency accused Hims & Hers of deceptive billing practices, including charging customers for prescriptions before they had consultations with healthcare providers. The lawsuit also highlights that users find it difficult to cancel subscriptions once enrolled in services like telehealth appointments and medication delivery. In response, Hims & Hers dismissed the claims as baseless on social media, arguing the action is more about generating headlines than protecting consumers. The news caused a sharp decline in Hims & Hers stock price, which dropped around 12% following the announcement.
Topics: FTC lawsuit Meta Snap telehealth user data privacy