Commentary: Hims & Hers’ Health-Data Sharing Raises Privacy Questions

Summary

An opinion article examines regulators’ allegations that Hims & Hers shared sensitive health-related browsing data with Meta and other ad platforms through tracking tools, and the company’s argument that users consented through its privacy terms.

Key points

The FTC, Utah and California allege that Hims & Hers shared consumers’ sensitive health information with Meta and Snapchat through data-sharing and tracking technologies for advertising.
Hims & Hers moved to dismiss the lawsuit, pointing to disclosures in its terms and privacy policy that permit sharing sensitive information for marketing.
The article says regulators also allege Hims & Hers used tracking software from Google, Microsoft, TikTok, Reddit, Pinterest and other advertising companies.
The commentary emphasizes that telehealth users disclose sensitive information while seeking medical care, raising privacy concerns beyond ordinary online shopping.
It places the allegations in the context of broader concerns about healthcare website tracking and the handling of patient data.

Article Details

Topic: Alleged sharing of sensitive telehealth data with advertising platforms and the resulting U.S. privacy lawsuit

Vendors

Hims & HersFacebook and Instagram, received consumers' sensitive health information from telehealth platform Hims & Hers through Meta's customer-data sharing and automated tracking technologies. If you browsed erectile MetaSo how's your sex life? Too personal? None of my business? Perhaps we should ask Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Maybe he could shed some light on it.Snapchatyou browsed erectile dysfunction medications on Hims & Hers, those data points went straight to Meta and Snapchat for advertising services, according to a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission and the states of

Countries

United Statesuse of website trackers and reported the activity as data breaches affecting millions of patients to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Industries

advertisingdysfunction medications on Hims & Hers, those data points went straight to Meta and Snapchat for advertising services, according to a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission and the states of Utah and HealthcareThat's just great! You visit a healthcare website seeking help for an embarrassing medical condition, and advertisers will follow your browsing activity as a constant reminder. Nothing says "private healthcare