SAN FRANCISCO — A jury in California has ruled against Meta, finding the company liable for infringing state privacy regulations by improperly collecting menstrual health information from users of the period tracking app Flo. This decision follows a recent settlement reached by Flo Health regarding similar claims in a class action lawsuit.
The lawsuit accused Meta, along with other firms, of gathering sensitive health data, including menstrual cycles and fertility objectives, for advertising purposes, in violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act. Originally, the lawsuit also included Google, Flo, and analytics companies AppsFlyer and Flurry among its defendants.
In July, Google settled its involvement in the case, while Flo Health came to an agreement shortly thereafter, as a judge indicated that the plaintiffs might struggle to substantiate their claims. Unlike Google and Flo, Meta opted to take the matter to trial. The potential damages it now faces due to the recent verdict could be substantial.
Meta has rejected the jury’s findings, maintaining that the company never surveilled Flo app users. The ruling represents a notable development in digital health privacy, creating a precedent for tech firms that collect reproductive health data without clear and explicit consent from users.
As concerns increase over data privacy, especially surrounding sensitive health information, this case could influence future legislation and regulations pertaining to personal data protection in the tech industry.
Changes in public attitudes toward data privacy, particularly concerning women’s health information, may further highlight the importance of user consent in digital applications. As awareness grows, tech companies may need to reassess how they gather and utilize sensitive health data to ensure compliance with privacy laws.
This outcome emphasizes the growing scrutiny tech companies face regarding the handling of personal health information, suggesting that future violations could lead to more rigorous consequences.
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