DOJ and FTC go After Big Tech and Their Apps for Selling Personal Medical Data

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced yesterday that together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) they had reached a settlement with GoodRx Holdings Inc., which markets an online prescription drug app, GoodRx. They settled for $1.5 million after they filed a complaint earlier this month alleging that GoodRx had disclosed millions of users’ personal health information to third parties without the users’ authorization, consent, or knowledge. Rebecca Pifer, writing for HealthCareDive.com, states that this is the first time the FTC has taken action against Big Tech by using the "Health Breach Notification Rule" which was passed in 2010, and signifies the U.S. Government's intent to start going after more online digital health companies who sell users' personal health information without their consent.