BetterHelp and the FTC: Mental Health Data and Ads
The FTC banned the counselling service from sharing health data for advertising.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 24, 2026On July 14, 2023 the FTC gave final approval to an order against BetterHelp, an online counselling service. The FTC said BetterHelp disclosed consumers’ email addresses, IP addresses and health questionnaire information to Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo and Pinterest for advertising, after promising to use or disclose personal health data only for limited purposes. The order bans sharing health data for advertising and for retargeting, requires affirmative express consent before sharing with certain third parties, and requires BetterHelp to pay $7.8 million for partial refunds.
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Seeking help online involves sharing very personal details. This guide explains what the FTC said about BetterHelp, using the FTC’s announcement of its final order.
What was announced
The FTC announced final approval of its order against BetterHelp, Inc. on July 14, 2023. The action was first announced in March 2023. After reviewing 123 public comments, the Commission voted 3-0 to finalise the complaint and order.
What the FTC said was shared
According to the FTC, BetterHelp disclosed these items:
- email addresses;
- IP addresses;
- health questionnaire information.
The FTC names Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo and Pinterest as receiving this data for advertising purposes. It said BetterHelp told consumers it would only use or disclose personal health data for limited purposes.
What the order requires
The order:
- bans BetterHelp from disclosing consumers’ health data for advertising;
- bans sharing personal information for retargeting;
- requires affirmative express consent before disclosing personal information to certain third parties for any purpose;
- requires a comprehensive privacy programme with strong safeguards for consumer data;
- requires BetterHelp to direct third parties to delete the health and other personal data it shared with them;
- requires limits on how long BetterHelp keeps personal and health information, under a data retention schedule.
BetterHelp must pay $7.8 million, which the FTC said would fund partial refunds to consumers.
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Why email and IP address matter
An email address or an IP address can look harmless, but advertising platforms use them to match a visitor to an account. When the visitor has just filled in a health questionnaire, the match can reveal something sensitive. Read what counts as personal information and what someone can do with your IP address.
Steps to take before you use a health service
- Read what the service says it shares, and look for any mention of advertising or analytics partners.
- Use a separate email address for sensitive services. See email aliases.
- Limit tracking in your browser. Our guide to tracking cookies explains how to block them.
- Answer only the questions you must. If a form field is optional, you can skip it.
- Ask for deletion when you stop using the service. In many places you have legal rights to do so; see how to send a CCPA deletion request.
- Watch for refunds. The FTC said money from the settlement would fund partial refunds, so check the FTC’s official refunds page if you used the service.
Health data in other contexts
Several FTC cases follow a similar pattern: a service collects health information, promises privacy and shares it with advertisers. Compare the Flo Health case and the GoodRx case. A state law now covers consumer health data in Washington; see the My Health My Data Act guide.
If you want your records
For records held by doctors and plans, see how to get your health records.
Sources
- FTC: FTC gives final approval to order banning BetterHelp from sharing sensitive health data for advertising (July 14, 2023) (allegations, recipients, order terms, payment)
Frequently asked questions
What did the FTC say BetterHelp shared?
Email addresses, IP addresses and health questionnaire information, disclosed to Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo and Pinterest for advertising.
How much must BetterHelp pay?
$7.8 million, which the FTC said would fund partial refunds to consumers.
What does the order ban?
Disclosing health data for advertising and sharing personal information for retargeting.
When did the FTC finalise the order?
July 14, 2023, after reviewing 123 public comments.
How can I protect myself when using health services?
Read the sharing terms, use a separate email, block trackers, answer only what you must and ask for deletion when you leave.
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