The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a complaint against Premom, a fertility tracking app, for sharing users' sensitive health information with third-party advertisers without their consent. The app shared identifiable health and location information with Google and marketing firm AppsFlyer since 2018, and also shared users' data with two China-based mobile analytics companies known for "suspect privacy practices." As part of a proposed settlement, Premom has agreed to pay a $100,000 civil penalty for violating the FTC's Health Breach Notification Rule and to stop sharing personal health data with third parties for advertising.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged fertility app Premom with deceiving users by sharing their sensitive personal information with third parties, including two China-based firms, and failing to notify consumers of these unauthorized disclosures in violation of the Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR). As part of a proposed order, Premom would be barred from sharing users’ personal health data with third parties for advertising, required to obtain users’ consent before sharing health data for any other purpose, and must tell consumers how their personal data will be used. Easy Healthcare Corporation, which operates the Premom app, will pay a $100,000 civil penalty for violating the HBNR and will also be required to implement comprehensive security and privacy programs that include strong safeguards to protect consumer data.
