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FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

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Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#11

Post by tcoff91 »

Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

You should read this article about Target going to great lengths to figure out which customers were pregnant. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits....

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#12

Post by [deleted] »

ascagnel_ wrote: post #7
Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

There's a lot of value in knowing about a pregnancy -- in the months leading up to a baby, you're spending a ton of money getting ready for the baby or on constantly buying new clothes for mom as the pregnancy moves along. Once the baby comes, you have a good chance for capturing a repeat customer on a bunch of baby-related items (diapers, wipes, etc).

[deleted]

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#13

Post by joshspankit »

ascagnel_ wrote: post #7
Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

There's a lot of value in knowing about a pregnancy -- in the months leading up to a baby, you're spending a ton of money getting ready for the baby or on constantly buying new clothes for mom as the pregnancy moves along. Once the baby comes, you have a good chance for capturing a repeat customer on a bunch of baby-related items (diapers, wipes, etc).

Also, if you’ve ever known someone who’s a new parent; the sheer volume of “welcome packages”, pamphlets, flyers, coupons, and free samples is staggering and clearly indicates (to me at least) that the customer value is uncommonly high.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#14

Post by zinekeller »

ndiscussion wrote: post #4

To quote a dead comment: "Am I missing something, or are they really being let off with less than a slap on the wrist, and no fines? Not really sending a great message here, FTC." Agreed. This is one of the most egregious abuses of privacy imagineable.

I do get with the frustration, but with the current state of US (federal) laws it is probably the best remedy available now (unlike GDPR where you can really go and score larger fines and even jail time if it is grossly negligent or intentional).

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#15

Post by antihero »

Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

Are you kidding? As far as I know, there is no greater event generally in a persons life when their purchasing habits and lifestyle change, and they are looking for new brands, than pregnancy.

Not only just for the huge amount of money people will spend on baby stuff, sorting out cribs, but then eighteen years perfectly time-able marketing for birthdays, different stages of development, loans, different cars, houses, college loans, It is probably the most valuable single even about someone from an advertising perspective and whoever can get in first is out to make bank.

How valuable do you think it to build relationship with, track the preferences of, and pick a the perfect adverts and products to show a person who has purchasing power for someone for eighteen solid years? With 100% certainty of what they are going to need unless something tragic happens.

Also knowing that based on the socioeconomic status whether they will be pressed for time and desperate for discounts, or be flush enough that they can afford to give their sprogg the most expensive things they will grow out of.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#16

Post by ogre_codes »

Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

> I don't get why companies would pay for this sort of data.

Knowing when someone is pregnant or trying to get pregnant seem like premium moments. Lots of money in fertility treatments and related services. Lots more money in maternity products and new baby products.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#17

Post by philsnow »

ndiscussion wrote: post #4

To quote a dead comment: "Am I missing something, or are they really being let off with less than a slap on the wrist, and no fines? Not really sending a great message here, FTC." Agreed. This is one of the most egregious abuses of privacy imagineable.

> This is one of the most egregious abuses of privacy imagineable.

For people who haven't used these kinds of apps, Flo includes day-by-day tracking of:

  - sex and sex drive
    - didn't have sex
    - protected sex
    - unprotected sex
    - high sex drive
    - masturbation
  - mood: 
    - calm
    - happy
    - [...]
    - sad
    - depressed
    - obsessive thoughts 
    - apathetic
    - very self-critical
  - symptoms (cramps, tender breasts, acne, many more)
  - vaginal discharge (none, spotting, sticky, eggwhite, etc, "unusual")
  - other (travel, stress, disease/injury, alcohol)
There's a ridiculous amount of potential here for just purely creepy oversharing of information that a woman might presume is safe to enter into an app.

There's also a lot of things here that are maybe legally dangerous to be disclosing outside of a doctor-patient context (the last several "mood" items).

This is abhorrent.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#18

Post by core-e »

Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

At a minimum the last few on the mood list (depressed obsessive thoughts, apathetic, very self-critical) seem like great indicators of when someone might be the most receptive to advertising for SSRIs.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#19

Post by Cd00d »

antihero wrote: post #15
Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

Are you kidding? As far as I know, there is no greater event generally in a persons life when their purchasing habits and lifestyle change, and they are looking for new brands, than pregnancy. Not only just for the huge amount of money people will spend on baby stuff, sorting out cribs, but then eighteen years perfectly time-able marketing for birthdays, different stages of development, loans, different cars, houses,…

I was not kidding. I guess I didn't realize they were selling data with PII, which is shocking. I'm actually surprised Google and Facebook were taking in other-party data that wasn't aggregated, just due to the privacy and perception concerns.

That said, it still seems like a vector that's really problematic compared to gain. My personal anecdote is that my kids both only used Pampers Swaddlers diapers, simply because that's what the hospital gave us as we left - that is what I would see as a brilliant marketing partnership for P&G without risks of invasive perceptions.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#20

Post by edoceo »

Is this related to the US Fertility company's data breach?

Leaked SSN and DoB data, rouge code was on there for a month before they found it.

Edit: it's a different breach of a different fertility related company.

Finally data-breaches are sexy ;)

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