Hims & Hers Sued by FTC Over Alleged Deceptive Privacy Practices
Telehealth provider **Hims & Hers** is facing a lawsuit from the **Federal Trade Commission (FTC)**, joined by California and Utah, over allegations that it deceptively shared sensitive customer health information with third-party advertising platforms. The lawsuit claims the company's privacy promises were not honored, despite assurances of a secure and private process for users seeking treatment for sensitive conditions.
The **FTC** has filed a lawsuit against telehealth provider **Hims & Hers**, alleging that the company shared customers' sensitive health information with advertising platforms like **Snap** and **Meta**, despite publicly promising to safeguard their privacy.
According to the **FTC**, **Hims & Hers** disclosed "sensitive health information about medical conditions" by sharing customer lists with these platforms and through third-party tracking technologies that monitored website visitor actions.
**Hims & Hers**, headquartered in San Francisco, offers direct-to-consumer prescription medications and telehealth services. Patients often seek help for sexual health, mental health, and other sensitive conditions, requiring them to complete an online form for medical review before receiving treatment.
The **FTC** asserts that these actions violate the **FTC Act**, which prohibits unfair and deceptive practices. The states of Utah and California have joined the **FTC** in bringing the lawsuit.
In response, a spokesperson for **Hims & Hers** stated that the lawsuit "disregards substantial evidence we provided the **FTC** during its nearly three-year investigation, ignores established state laws and industry standards in telehealth, and contorts the law to try to manufacture claims." The company maintains that customers have the necessary information to make "informed" decisions, and its privacy policy allows users to control their information.
However, the **FTC**'s complaint highlights that the **Hims & Hers** website emphasized the firm's commitment to patient privacy, promising that "medical records and sensitive information are only accessed by the medical providers managing your care." The company also marketed itself as offering a "100% online, private, and secure process."
These claims, the complaint argues, "conveyed to consumers that Hims would not disclose their health information to third parties." Instead, the **FTC** alleges, "Hims opted to grow the company and increase its revenue streams."
The lawsuit also includes allegations that **Hims & Hers** made it difficult for customers to cancel subscriptions and misled them regarding billing practices.
