FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Light Collective, a patient advocacy group committed to protecting privacy and patient rights, today announced it has submitted a formal complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook). The complaint outlines concerns over Meta’s anticompetitive and unlawful practices since 2018 which include misuse of sensitive health data, and violations of the FTC’s 2019 consent order.
At the heart of the complaint is Meta’s dominance over patient-support communities hosted on “Private” Facebook Groups, which has effectively trapped vulnerable patients who rely heavily on these groups for essential health information and emotional support. The complaint cites early evidence uncovered in 2018—the Strict Inclusion Closed Group Reverse Lookup (SICGRL) report—which detailed critical vulnerabilities that systematically exposed and exploited patient data within these supposed private groups.
Additionally, The Light Collective’s complaint cites prior evidence demonstrating how Meta knowingly used leaked patient data to enable targeted pharmaceutical advertising. Referencing recent industry analyses and investigative reports, the complaint describes the inappropriate use of sensitive patient information for personalized drug ads, raising significant ethical and privacy concerns.
“Meta’s harmful practices against patient-peer support communities, combined with their deliberate use of patient data for targeted health advertising, is harmful and unacceptable,” said Andrea Downing, Co-Founder & Board President at The Light Collective. “The company’s persistent disregard for privacy and patient safety directly violates the commitments made in their landmark $5 billion settlement with the FTC in 2019. We strongly urge the FTC to investigate these serious breaches and hold Meta accountable.”
The Light Collective specifically requests that the FTC:
- Investigate Meta’s practices involving patient groups and targeted pharmaceutical advertising.
- Mandate that Meta publicly disclose detailed data on their market dominance over patient communities.
- Evaluate Meta’s compliance with the privacy safeguards required by the 2019 FTC Consent Order.
- Implement appropriate measures, including increased regulatory oversight and potential penalties.
The Light Collective remains dedicated to protecting patient communities by advocating for digital platforms that uphold privacy, transparency, and ethical standards.
About The Light Collective
The Light Collective is a patient-led advocacy organization that focuses on safeguarding patient privacy, protecting digital rights, and promoting ethical healthcare technologies.
Media Contact:
contact@lightcollective.org
Discover more from Light Collective
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.