Archive · 6 Aug 2025
Meta Guilty of Illegally Collecting Flo App User Data
Imagine an app that tracks your period.
This app was sending private info, like when your period started and info about your sex life, to Facebook without asking!
A big tech company called Meta, which owns Facebook, was found guilty because of this.
Over 3.7 million people were affected.
The app used software that shared the data.
Meta said they didn't want the data, but the people who used the app sued them and won.
This makes everyone think about keeping private health info safe.
Meta was found guilty of collecting period and fertility data from Flo app users.
The lawsuit involved over 3.7 million US users who used the app between November 2016 and February 2019.
Meta's SDK in Flo sent user data, including period dates and sexual activity, to Facebook.
Meta denies accessing personal health information but the jury ruled against them.
The ruling highlights concerns about digital health data privacy.
- Who
- Meta and Flo app users.
- What
- Meta was found guilty of collecting period tracking data from Flo app users.
- When
- The lawsuit covers data collected between November 2016 and February 2019.
- Where
- United States
- Why
- The lawsuit alleged Meta collected user data without consent.
Plaintiff's Viewpoint
Meta's Viewpoint
Data Collection
Plaintiff's Viewpoint
Meta violated user privacy by collecting and sharing sensitive health data without consent.
Meta's Viewpoint
Meta stated user privacy is important to them, and the terms of service prohibit developers from sending any health data.
- Defendant
- Meta
- App Involved
- Flo
- Users Affected
- 3.7+ million (US)
- Data Collected
- Period dates, sexual activity, mental health notes
- Legal Outcome
- Guilty verdict