Five US states join FTC suit against Hims & Hers over privacy practices

Five US states have joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a lawsuit against telehealth company Hims & Hers Health, alleging the company engaged in deceptive and unlawful privacy practices, according to Reuters. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, claims Hims & Hers shared consumers' sensitive health information with third-party advertising platforms such as Meta Platforms and Snap, despite asserting its services maintain user privacy.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges Hims & Hers deceived users regarding its billing and cancellation practices, in line with the FTC's statement. The amended complaint now includes Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin, alleging violations of state consumer protection laws alongside federal laws, as reported by the FTC.

Hims & Hers, one of the largest telehealth providers in the market for weight-loss drugs, also treats conditions like erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and mental health, shipping prescriptions directly to customers. The company's spokesperson declared they will "vigorously defend ourselves against these follow-on claims, which rely on the same flawed allegations advanced in the government’s lawsuit."

The FTC has accused Hims & Hers of charging users for prescription drugs before they meet with healthcare providers and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions. The telehealth firm reduced its full-year core profit forecast on Monday due to increased costs associated with a shift towards branded weight-loss drugs and international expansion, as stated by Reuters.