BetterHelp Settles FTC Privacy Allegations for $7.8M, Affects 800,000 Users

May 7, 2024, 04:44 PM

BetterHelp has agreed to pay $7.8 million to settle FTC allegations that the online therapy provider improperly used and shared consumers' health data for advertising purposes. The settlement covers approximately 800,000 individuals who used services from BetterHelp and its affiliated websites, including MyTherapist, Teen Counseling, Faithful Counseling, Pride Counseling, iCounseling, Regain, and Terappeuta, between August 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020. Customers affected by this privacy breach will soon receive notices regarding refunds as part of the settlement agreement. Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized that protecting consumers' sensitive health data is a high priority for the FTC.