The Federal Trade Commission has sued Hims & Hers, alleging the telehealth company shared sensitive user health data with advertising platforms including Meta and Snap after a three-year probe. The FTC says Hims & Hers falsely marketed itself as "100 percent online, private, and secure" while using automated tracking that disclosed user events. Hims & Hers denies the allegations. The case underscores rising regulatory scrutiny of how telehealth apps handle highly personal information and could influence future tracking practices.
FTC Sues Hims & Hers, Alleging Sensitive Health Data Was Shared With Meta and Snap
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Millions of people use telehealth services for private medical concerns with the expectation that those conversations remain confidential. A new federal lawsuit from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that telehealth provider Hims & Hers shared sensitive user health information with outside advertising platforms, including Meta and Snap.
What the FTC Alleges
The complaint, the culmination of a three-year FTC investigation, says Hims & Hers marketed itself as "100 percent online, private, and secure" while employing automated tracking technologies that sent certain user actions — called "Events" in the filing — to third parties such as Meta. The agency contends these practices amounted to misleading privacy claims and the transmission of highly personal health data into advertising networks.
Company Response
Hims & Hers issued a statement rejecting the FTC's characterization, calling the lawsuit "not enforcement grounded in consumer protection" and suggesting the action is intended to "generate headlines at our expense." The company maintains it complies with applicable privacy laws and defends its practices.
Why This Matters
The case raises a broader tension between ad-driven business models and promises of confidentiality that are especially sensitive in telehealth. Users seeking treatment for conditions such as erectile dysfunction or hair loss expect discretion; even limited data sharing with advertising platforms can feel deeply invasive.
The lawsuit also highlights how app privacy can be opaque: long terms of service, hidden tracking pixels, and automated data transfers can move information out of users' view and into ad ecosystems without clear, informed consent.
"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," said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Potential Impact
Because litigation is only beginning, a final outcome could take years. Still, the complaint signals heightened regulatory scrutiny of how companies handle sensitive patient information and may push telehealth firms to reconsider the use of tracking tools that feed advertising platforms.
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