FTC bans online mental health company BetterHelp from sharing user data for targeted ads, as federal crackdowns on info misuse intensify
from sharing sensitive user data with third-party advertisers, part of a ruling that also includes a $7.8 million fine that will be used toward partial refunds for consumers.from August 2017 through the end of 2020 may have had their personal information shared with social media platforms including Facebook and Snapchat, among others.
"When a person struggling with mental health issues reaches out for help, they do so in a moment of vulnerability and with an expectation that professional counseling services will protect their privacy," Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. Users who filled out a questionnaire indicating interest in the company or confirming they had been in therapy before may have then been shown targeted ads for BetterHelp's paid counseling programs, the FTC said.
"This industry-standard practice is routinely used by some of the largest health providers, health systems, and healthcare brands," BetterHelp."Nonetheless, we understand the FTC's desire to set new precedents around consumer marketing, and we are happy to settle this matter with the agency."
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