FemTech Lawsuits: Data Privacy Risks, Big Tech Misuse

FemTech industry has grown rapidly in the last decade. From period tracking apps to fertility monitors, these platforms empower women to take control of their reproductive health. But with this growth has come heightened scrutiny and privacy concerns. Many FemTech companies have been accused of failing to safeguard user privacy, sharing data with advertisers, or engaging in deceptive marketing practices.

This has led to a wave of FemTech lawsuits, with regulators, consumers, and advocacy groups holding companies accountable for privacy violations. Recent cases against Flo Health, Premom, and Glow show the legal and ethical stakes when intimate health data is mishandled.

The consumer protection lawyers at The Lyon Firm are investigating a wide range of data privacy and health app data misappropriation claims on behalf of plaintiffs in all fifty states. Contact our attorneys to discuss your legal options.

What Is FemTech and Why Does It Raise Privacy Issues?

“FemTech” is a broad term describing technology products and apps designed specifically for women’s health. These platforms collect vast amounts of sensitive data, including menstrual cycles, fertility status, sexual activity, mood patterns, and pregnancy information.

Because this sensitive data is tied directly to reproductive health, it is not only highly valuable to advertisers but also deeply personal to users. Unlike financial or browsing data, reproductive health information carries profound emotional and legal risks if misused.

Many users assume their data is confidential, but lawsuits and investigations have revealed that FemTech companies often share or sell this information without meaningful consent. That is why lawsuits and regulatory enforcement have become critical tools for protecting women’s digital privacy.

Recent FemTech Lawsuits and Settlements

The following major lawsuits and settlements have reshaped the industry and demonstrated the dangers of weak privacy protections:

• Flo Health Settlement: Flo Health, a popular period- and fertility-tracking app, came under regulatory fire after investigators found it had quietly shared sensitive reproductive data with third-party analytics and marketing companies. Users were assured their information would remain private, but behind the scenes, data was sent to firms like Facebook and Google. This contradiction led to an FTC investigation, resulting in a settlement requiring Flo to overhaul its privacy practices, improve transparency, and submit to ongoing audits. The case became a turning point, drawing attention to how femtech platforms must safeguard intimate health details.
• Premom App Case: The Premom ovulation tracking app was also scrutinized after allegations that it transferred personal health information—including menstrual cycles and fertility-related data—to third parties without user consent. What made this case particularly concerning was the suggestion that some of this data was accessible overseas, creating additional security concerns. The FTC stepped in, requiring Premom to cease improper sharing, strengthen compliance systems, and ensure that future data collection was aligned with its user promises. The outcome reinforced the need for strict boundaries around femtech data sharing practices.
• Glow Lawsuit: Glow, another well-known fertility and pregnancy-tracking platform, faced a class action lawsuit over claims that its platform was riddled with vulnerabilities, potentially exposing personal details about users’ reproductive health. The allegations suggested that inadequate security safeguards left sensitive data at risk of exposure to unauthorized parties. Glow ultimately reached a settlement that included commitments to strengthen its privacy protections, update its policies, and provide restitution to impacted consumers. The lawsuit underscored that transparency and robust cybersecurity are not optional in the femtech market—they are essential obligations.

Why FemTech Data Misuse Is So Harmful?

The misuse of FemTech data is not a minor inconvenience; it can have life-altering consequences. For instance, a fertility app sharing ovulation logs with advertisers might lead to predatory marketing of fertility treatments or insurance products. In jurisdictions with restrictive reproductive health laws, data from period trackers could theoretically be subpoenaed as evidence.

The harms fall into several categories:

• Emotional distress from loss of control over private health details
• Increased exposure to targeted advertising tied to reproductive status
• Risks of discrimination in employment or insurance based on health data
• Potential legal exposure where reproductive choices are legally scrutinized

These risks explain why regulators are paying closer attention and why consumers are increasingly turning to lawsuits to protect themselves.

Key Privacy Risks

Consumers should be aware of the following hazards tied to women’s health apps:

• Unauthorized data sharing: Health information sold or transmitted to third parties without meaningful consent
• Third-party tracking: Analytics and ad platforms building hidden user profiles
• Weak cybersecurity: Poor security practices leaving sensitive data vulnerable to hackers
• Legal exposure: Data potentially used in legal disputes over reproductive health choices
• Opaque policies: Privacy statements that hide or misrepresent how data is handled

How Big Tech Profits From FemTech Data

Technology giants such as Google and Meta have positioned themselves to quietly profit from the sensitive information collected through FemTech applications. What companies describe as “analytics” or “engagement tracking” often functions as a pipeline for advertising networks.

Consider this: someone records their menstrual cycle in an app, and before long, ads for fertility services, prenatal products, or even financial instruments like life insurance begin to appear. When paired with location data, online searches, and social media behavior, these records can form disturbingly detailed consumer profiles.

This intertwining of app developers and Big Tech partners complicates legal responsibility. Blame is often shared, making it harder for consumers to know who to hold accountable. Still, enforcement actions, such as the settlement involving Flo Health, show that regulators are increasingly willing to confront both app makers and larger technology firms when user privacy is compromised.

Steps to Guard Reproductive Health Data

While stronger regulation and ongoing litigation are crucial, individuals also play a role in limiting their own risk exposure. Some practical privacy measures include:

• Reading privacy disclosures carefully before downloading or using health-related apps.

• Restricting permissions like GPS access or microphone use to only what is necessary.

• Seeking platforms that publicly commit to not selling or sharing sensitive information.

• Removing unused apps and reviewing stored data periodically.

• Avoiding unnecessary identifiers in profiles, such as full names or birth dates.

These precautions cannot eliminate all risks, but they can help reduce the amount of sensitive reproductive health data that is collected and shared.

Options for Victims of FemTech Privacy Breaches

Users who discover that their reproductive health data has been sold, shared, or mishandled may have legal remedies. Common avenues include:

• Class actions that consolidate claims from large groups of users harmed by the same practice.

• Individual lawsuits in cases where a specific, measurable harm has occurred.

• Regulatory complaints to agencies like the FTC or state attorneys general, which can lead to fines and oversight.

• Court-ordered protections, such as mandatory changes to how apps store or share personal data.

• Legislative advocacy, pushing for stronger statutory safeguards in digital health privacy.

For many, the first step is consulting an attorney with experience in privacy and consumer protection law. At The Lyon Firm, we investigate FemTech privacy violations nationwide, working to secure compensation for victims and push for stronger industry standards.

Holding FemTech Companies Accountable

If you have used apps like Flo, Premom, or Glow and believe your data was misused, you may have legal recourse. Speaking with a privacy attorney at The Lyon Firm can help you explore your options, whether that means joining a class action, filing an individual lawsuit, or advocating for stronger consumer protections.

By holding FemTech companies accountable, consumers can help ensure that sensitive reproductive health data is treated with the seriousness and confidentiality it deserves.

FAQs: FemTech Lawsuits and Data Privacy

Q: What is a FemTech lawsuit? FemTech lawsuits involve claims against health apps and companies that mishandle or misrepresent how they use sensitive reproductive health data.

Q: Which FemTech companies have faced lawsuits? High-profile cases include Flo Health, Premom, and Glow, all of which faced settlements related to data misuse and deceptive privacy practices.

Q: Are FemTech apps covered by HIPAA? Many are not. While HIPAA covers traditional healthcare providers, most apps fall outside its protections, making consumer protection laws even more critical.

Q: What can I do if my health app data was shared without consent? You may be able to join a class action lawsuit, file an individual claim, or submit a regulatory complaint. A data privacy attorney can evaluate your options.

Q: Why is FemTech data especially sensitive? FemTech apps collect information about fertility, sexual activity, pregnancy, and menstrual cycles — highly personal details that could lead to discrimination or misuse if disclosed.