FTC Finalizes $7.8 Million Penalty Against BetterHelp for Sharing Patient Health Data with Advertisers
By
@FTC
Lightly browned and well buttered. A solid pick from the rack.
Summary
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized an order against online counseling service BetterHelp, requiring it to pay $7.8 million and banning it from sharing consumers' sensitive health data for advertising purposes. The FTC alleged that BetterHelp violated its privacy promises by sharing users' email addresses, IP addresses, and health questionnaire information with third-party advertising platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo, and Pinterest. The action was first announced in March.
Key quotes
· 2 pulledThe Federal Trade Commission finalized an order requiring online counseling service BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million and prohibiting it from sharing consumers' health data for advertising
The FTC charged that BetterHelp used and disclosed consumers' email addresses, IP addresses, and health questionnaire information to Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo, and Pinterest for advertising
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