Google Flo Pay $56M Settle Period Tracker Privacy Suit

Google and the menstrual tracking app Flo Health have agreed to pay a combined $56 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging the illegal sharing of users' sensitive health data, including menstrual and pregnancy information, with digital advertising companies. Google will contribute $48 million while Flo Health will pay $8 million, with Flurry having already settled for $3.5 million. The lawsuit accused the companies of violating the California Invasion of Privacy Act by sharing data between late 2016 and early 2019 without user consent, although both Google and Flo deny any wrongdoing. Meta, also implicated in the case and found liable by a jury, plans to appeal the verdict and is awaiting a damages hearing. The settlements come ahead of a trial and are intended to avoid the risks and costs associated with prolonged litigation. This case is significant for its implications on the legality of ad tracking software used by major tech firms, especially concerning the privacy of women's reproductive health data.