FTC and HHS Issue Joint Warning to Health Organizations About Privacy Risks From Social Media Trackers

In a recent development aimed at safeguarding consumers' health privacy, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have jointly sent a letter to approximately 130 hospital systems and telehealth providers. This letter alerts these organizations about the potential risks and concerns associated with integrating technologies into their websites and mobile apps that can track users' online activities and potentially disclose personal health data to third parties. (Examples would include the Meta and Google pixels, and similar trackers that may be embedded when a provider uses their services or provides social media links.) The letter is the latest move in the health privacy space by federal regulators, who have brought health privacy enforcement actions and sent other warnings out over the last year.  

Why It Matters 

As privacy regulators in the United States have increased their enforcement efforts over the past year, health organizations must exercise extra caution when adding social media features or services to their sites. It is especially important for healthcare providers to pay attention to tracking technologies that social media services may place on users of healthcare apps and sites. These technologies can collect and transfer personal health data, potentially violating privacy regulations and compromising users' confidential information.