STAT+: Hims misled consumers and violated their privacy, FTC alleges in a lawsuit

Katie covers the impact of health technology on patients, clinicians, and businesses. Her stories explore the price tag of clinical AI, digital health at the FDA, and the boom in direct-to-consumer telehealth. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at palmer.01.On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission sued direct-to-consumer telehealth company Hims & Hers, continuing a pattern of action against digital health companies’ business practices and use of consumer health data. The FTC, along with Utah and California, alleged that Hims deceived consumers in several ways when they purchased clinical care and medications through the site. The telehealth company misled consumers about sharing their sensitive health information with third parties including Meta and Snap, the suit claims. It also alleges that Hims isn’t clear that when consumers fill out a medical history, they are signing up for a subscription that continually renews and bills them for medication. Patients are given “virtually no opportunity to review the provider’s recommended treatment, much less consent to it,” the lawsuit alleges, while the site also makes it difficult for users to cancel their subscriptions. Hims responded to the suit in a statement on the social media platform X. “This lawsuit disregards substantial evidence we provided the FTC during its nearly three-year investigation, ignores established state laws and industry standards in telehealth, and contorts the law to try to manufacture claims,” reads the statement. “This is not enforcement grounded in consumer protection; it is an effort to generate headlines at our expense. We are confident in our position and will vigorously defend ourselves against these baseless claims.” STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — and get additional analysis of the technologies disrupting health care — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe