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Flo Health Data Misuse Lawsuit

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Flo Health regarding the alleged misuse of user data and private health information on the Flo app. According to plaintiffs, women who used the Flo app to track their periods, ovulation and pregnancies were unaware that the app had software that “secretly” collected their personal information, and then shared that personal data with third-parties and advertisers.

The lawsuit follows a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation in which the agency alleged Flo Health misled users about their data collection practices. Flo settled the allegations with the FTC in January 2021 and agreed to stop misrepresenting how it uses the personal data of clients. The company also planned to notify all app users if their data was shared with third parties. Flo Health agreed to instruct third parties to destroy the collected health data but it is not known if and when that will happen.

The Flo Health case highlights a growing area of litigation involving consumer privacy violations. Advertisers and data brokers have been collecting personal data and amassing profiles that may allow consumer tracking on all connected devices. The class action lawsuit filed aims to stop Flo Health’s “unlawful practices and sequester its unlawfully obtained information.”

The Lyon Firm is a Cincinnati, Ohio Data Privacy Attorney investigating claims of data misuse, personal data theft, and data breach events for plaintiffs nationwide. Joe Lyon has experience engaging large corporations in data privacy lawsuits and has the resources to reach large settlements on behalf of clients.

Flo Health Data Collection

According to the lawsuit, the Flo Health app collects private data from more than 150 million users. Flo users, however, were assured by privacy policies that the company would only share certain personal data with third parties for a better user experience. Advertising and corporate profits, of course, do not create a better consumer experience.

Plaintiffs claim that Flo promised they would not disclose data related to health to marketing firms. In the end, Flo disclosed their users’ private health data in an unrestricted manner for some time. Attorneys even claim that Flo, and other apps that collect data, generate a large portion of its revenue from selling personal data to advertisers.

Some of the personal data collected may include users’ name, email address, gender, date of birth, password, location, weight, body temperature, menstrual cycle dates, and other private health information including sexual activity. According attorneys and to the original FTC complaint, Flo allegedly shared “intimate details” of consumers’ reproductive health with third parties.

Consumer Privacy Violation Lawsuits

By filing a claim against Flo Health or other companies who violate consumer privacy statues, you cannot only be compensated but can hold accountable those who mishandle and misuse personal data. Consumers have a right to ensure that their personal data is protected and not sold to any company willing to purchase it for various uses that do not benefit the consumer.

Consumers have a right to control how their health data is used, and when those rights are violated, they may file a data misuse claim. Consumers also have a right to know how a company collects, maintains, uses, sells, or protects personal data.

Flo Health has already settled with the FTC, which may satisfy the government, but the filed class action has the ability to compensate personal victims for the allegedly unlawful data sharing practice. If you have used the Flo Health app and have had your personal information exposed, contact a personal data theft attorney to investigate.

The Lyon Firm offers free consultations and as a consumer you can allow us to handle the complex proceedings on your behalf. If the Flo App data privacy case settles, every class member will have an opportunity to claim whatever compensation the courts see as appropriate.

data collection, data privacy, health data privacy, Personal Data Misuse