Hims & Hers sent users’ health data to social media giants despite promising privacy, bombshell FTC lawsuit claims

Hims & Hers sent users’ health data to social media giants despite promising privacy, bombshell FTC lawsuit claims

The U.S. Federal Trade ​Commission sued Hims & Hers on Wednesday alleging the telehealth platform shared users’ health ‌data with online advertisers, despite promising privacy, and engaged in deceptive billing and cancellation practices.

Users’ sensitive health information was shared with online advertising companies including Meta ​Platforms and Snap despite the company leading customers to believe their ​data was private, the FTC alleged in the lawsuit filed along with Los ⁠Angeles County and Utah.

Hims & Hers stock added to losses after the ​news and was trading down around 12%.

Hims & Hers stock added to losses after the ​news and was trading down around 12%. Getty Images for REVOLVE

Hims & Hers is one of ​the largest telehealth players in the market for weight loss drugs. The company offers telehealth appointments and prescriptions for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and mental health medications, which ​it ships straight to customers.

“The FTC will not hesitate to act ​on behalf of consumers deprived of their ability to choose which products they want ‌and ⁠whether to keep their most sensitive health information private,” Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement.


A smartphone displaying the Hims health app with "Weight Loss" and "GLP-1 Injection" options.
Hims & Hers is one of ​the largest telehealth players in the market for weight loss drugs. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Hims & Hers called the claims baseless in a post on social media site ​X. “This is not ​enforcement grounded ⁠in consumer protection; it is an effort to generate headlines at our expense,” the company said in the ​post.

Hims & Hers also started charging users for prescriptions before ​they have ⁠had a chance to meet with healthcare providers, the FTC alleged.

Most customers do not receive a consultation with a provider, and instead are charged for ⁠prescriptions ​soon after filling out an intake form, ​according to the agency.

Hims & Hers also makes it difficult to cancel subscriptions, the FTC said.

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