Jury rules Meta violated California privacy laws by quietly collecting Flo users’ menstrual health data

California jury found Meta in violation of state using privacy laws in class activity brought by users of a periodic tracking app, Flo, who claimed that the technology giant collected private menstrual health data without the consent of users and used it for advertising purposes.

The plaintiffs, claiming to represent millions of Flo users, accused Flo and meta of collecting private health data, such as their periodic dates and fertility goals, by Flo’s app without permission, thus violating a California invasion of privacy law.

Recorded in 2021 against Flo, the complaint also nominated Meta, Google, and advertising analysis companies AppFlyers and Flurry, as defendants, though Google resolved the case in Julyand Flo also did this earlier this -month.

“This verdict sends a clear message about the protection of digital health data and the responsibilities of Great Techniko,” said Michael P. Canty and Carol C. Villegas, chief police officers in the case.

“Companies like Meta, which are secretly benefiting from users’ most intimate information must be responsible. Today’s result is strengthening the fundamental right to privacy – especially when it comes to sensitive health data,” they added.

Meta disagreed with the verdict and said the company never came up with FLO users.

“We vigorously disagree with this result and investigate all the legal options. The plaintiffs’ claims against Meta are simply false. User -privacy is important for meta, so we do not want health or other sensitive information, and why our terms prohibit developers from sending anyone,” a company spokesman said in a statement.

Last year, Flo raised $ 200 million in series C -funding from General Atlantic at an estimate of more than $ 1 billion.