Millions of people downloaded the Flo app during some of the biggest moments of their lives.
For many, it wasn’t just a period tracker. They used it to track ovulation, plan pregnancies, celebrate positive tests, cope with fertility struggles and record symptoms they may never have shared with anyone else.
But now, Flo Health, Google and Flurry have agreed to pay $59.5 million to settle a US class action lawsuit alleging that intimate health information entered into the app was disclosed to third parties without users’ knowledge or consent.
As news of the US settlement spreads, many people who shared their intimate health information with Flo are left asking: What about us?
What was the lawsuit about?
The legal action focused on individuals who used the Flo app in the United States between 1 November 2016 and 28 February 2019.
The claim alleged that information users entered into the app regarding menstruation and pregnancy was shared with third-party technology companies.
According to the claim, this included companies such as Google, Meta and Flurry.
The companies still deny any wrongdoing. The settlement has been agreed to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continuing the litigation.
Why the Flo class action matters beyond the United States
Health apps can reveal far more about someone’s life than most people realise.
Unlike a shopping app or a music streaming service, fertility and period tracking apps can reveal extremely personal details about someone’s life, including:
- Menstrual cycles
- Sexual activity (how often, when, etc.)
- Ovulation tracking and fertility windows
- Attempts to conceive
- Miscarrigaes
- Pregnancy test results
- Pregnancy status or intentions
- Medical and health information
- Vaginal discharge, symptoms, mood and more.
Most people wouldn’t tell a stranger these details. They certainly wouldn’t expect them to be shared beyond the app they trusted.
If the allegations are true, this isn’t simply about personal information. It’s about dignity, privacy and the right to control who has access to some of the most intimate moments of your life.
Could UK users be due compensation?
Your reproductive health isn’t just another piece of personal information.
It can reveal whether you’re trying for a baby, whether you’ve experienced a miscarriage, when you’re having sex, whether you’re pregnant and even how you’re feeling emotionally.
That’s why UK law gives health data some of the strongest protections available.
The US settlement only applies to eligible users covered by the American legal action. But Flo is one of the world’s most popular period and fertility tracking apps — used by over 100 million people globally. If Flo shared your data without consent, your rights may have been violated under UK law.
At Join the Claim, we believe UK consumers deserve the same opportunity to have their concerns heard.
What you can do next
Following the US settlement, UK law firms may investigate whether similar legal action could be brought here. And if you used Flo and are based in the UK, you may have grounds to join a group action claim.
If UK users were affected in the same way as those included in the US case, they deserve answers. And if their rights have been breached, they deserve the opportunity to seek justice too.
That’s why we’re monitoring developments closely. We’ll keep you informed as the situation develops and, where appropriate, help you understand whether you may be eligible to take part in a claim through one of our trusted partner law firms.
Join the Claim connects consumers with SRA-regulated lawyers. Visit the claim page to check your eligibility if a claim is open with one of our trusted legal partners. If a group action has not yet been launched, you can register your interest and we’ll keep you informed if a partner firm decides to take a claim forward.
