Meta accessed women's health data from Flo app without consent, says court
10 days ago
- #privacy
- #reproductive-health
- #data-breach
- A jury ruled that Meta accessed sensitive information from Flo Health, a reproductive health tracking app, without user consent.
- Flo Health, developed in 2015, tracks detailed aspects of women's reproductive health, including menstrual cycles, mood swings, and sexual activity.
- Despite promises to protect user data, Flo Health shared intimate information with third parties like Facebook, Google, AppsFlyer, and Flurry between 2016 and 2019.
- The Federal Trade Commission settled with Flo Health in 2021, requiring an independent privacy review and prohibiting misrepresentation of the app's data practices.
- A class action lawsuit alleges invasion of privacy, breach of contract, and violations of medical confidentiality laws, seeking damages and profits from Flo Health.
- Meta was found to have intentionally eavesdropped on user data without consent, while Google and Flo Health have already settled with plaintiffs.
- The case highlights broader privacy concerns, especially regarding women's health data post the US Supreme Court's 2022 abortion ruling.
- Reports indicate online pharmacies selling abortion pills also share sensitive data with tech companies, posing risks to users.
- The misuse of technology for data sharing raises serious dangers, prompting calls for caution in using apps for sensitive health tracking.