FTC: BetterHelp pushed users to share mental health info then gave it to Facebook
Even if you don't know anyone who has used BetterHelp's services, podcast fans will recognize it from its annoying adverts for its online therapists. American regulators, however, allege the company's relationship with the advertising industry is more perverse than a mere irritating jingle, claiming it betrayed loyalties that should lie with customers by passing on their mental health info to Facebook, Snapchat and others.
BetterHelp – whose business boomed during COVID lockdown – has denied wrongdoing, and claimed in a statement that it merely used"industry-standard practice... routinely used by some of the largest health providers, health systems, and healthcare brands."[PDF], users were told by BetterHelp:"Rest assured – any information provided in this questionnaire will stay private between you and your counselor.
The company is then alleged to have compiled lists of visitors' and users' email addresses, which it uploaded to Facebook to match the individuals to their Facebook user accounts in order to target them and others like them with advertisements, and is alleged to have later"re-targeted" them with advertisements to refer their Facebook friends to the service.
The FTC also noted that BetterHelp"prominently" displayed a seal that attested to purported compliance with America's Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 , a law that outlines privacy and information security protection that residents can expect for their health information.
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