Senator Amy Klobuchar reports…

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) called on three telehealth companies to protect their patients’ sensitive health data. The senators expressed their concern over reports that these online health companies are tracking and sharing their customers’ personally identifiable health data with social media platforms for advertising purposes. These reports come despite company promises to prospective patients that their user data, including information about mental health and addiction treatment, will remain confidential. …

As Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, Klobuchar has long led efforts to protect consumers’ privacy, especially regarding personal health data.

Last August, she and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation to ban the use of Americans’ personal health data for commercial advertising. The Stop Commercial Use of Health Data Act would enhance consumers’ privacy by restricting companies from profiting off of personally identifiable health data for advertising purposes and allowing consumers greater access to and ownership over their personal health information.

Last May, Klobuchar and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect the data privacy of women seeking reproductive health care.

The text of the letters to Cerebral, Monument, and Workit Health are available here.