Enhanced FTC Regulations Target Privacy in Digital Health Apps
In a move to strengthen consumer protection and enhance transparency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized revisions to its Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR), targeting digital health applications that handle sensitive personal health information. These changes are designed to address the unique challenges posed by digital health technologies that fall outside the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under the revised rule, not only are health apps required to report breaches involving unsecured personal health data to affected individuals, the FTC, and sometimes the media, but they must also ensure that third-party service providers notify them of any…