In the Press
March 6, 2023

FTC Takes 'Shot Across the Bow' on Health Data, Attorneys Say (Axios)

Professionals

Regulators are cracking down on the digital health sector in response to what they view as unchecked growth at the expense of consumer privacy, FTC attorneys and outside legal experts tell Axios. "I think this is something that sort of fell through the cracks for the industry," Healthcare practice lead Roger Cohen tells Axios. "This is a clear indication from the FTC that they're going to pursue enforcement action and watch the sector carefully." The FTC's moves are designed to directly challenge the way digital health companies operate and make money. Cohen says, "This is a shot across the bow." For what's next, Cohen says, "if you’re a company in this space you ought to be looking at what you’re doing in this area." He continued, "review your privacy policies and think through whether they're accurate, look at what you’re doing with patient information, who you’re sharing it with and what you’re sharing it for."