Flo: Difference between revisions - Consumer Rights Wiki

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==Consumer impact summary==

=== Freedom ===

Flo, under their [[proprietary software]] license, restricts the rights to modify, resell, rent, lease, loan, sublicense, distribute, or otherwise transfer rights of the product. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-13 |title=Terms of use |url=https://flo.health/terms-of-service |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=flo.health}}</ref>

A user must register to use the service.<ref name=":1" />

Flo can change your password at any time at their discretion. <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://flo.health/privacy-policy |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=flo.health}}</ref>

=== Market Control ===

Flo is the leading menstrual health app on the market as of 2025. <ref>{{Cite journal |date=2025-08-13 |title=Menstrual Health Apps Market Size, Share & Trends Report

Menstrual Health Apps Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Platform (Android, iOS), By Application (Period Cycle Tracking, Fertility & Ovulation Management, Menstrual Health Management), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2025 - 2030 |url=https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/menstrual-health-apps-market-report |journal=[[Grand View Research]]}}</ref>

Flo is the fourth-highest profiting health app currently on the market, directly behind [[MyFitnessPal]], reporting US$263m in 2024 alone. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Curry |first=David |date=2025-01-22 |title=Flo Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025) |url=https://www.businessofapps.com/data/flo-statistics/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=businessofapps.com}}</ref>

=== Privacy ===

Upon a user deactivating, abandoning, or deleting their account, Flo states it will retain some data of the user. <ref name=":2" />

Flo has been subject to various international lawsuits due to selling information of users without their prior consent. Data was sent to multiple third-parties.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

==Incidents==

===Selling Data to Meta (2016-2025)===

Since 2016, it has been alleged that Flo was sending user's private health information to [[Meta]]. Flo has denied these claims, yet an investigation led by journal Privacy International included them in a group of 36 period-tracking apps which sent data through [[Facebook]]'s Facebook Software Development Kit (SDK); whether or not the user has an account with Facebook.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-09|title=No Body's Business But Mine: How Menstruation Apps Are Sharing Your Data |url=https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3196/no-bodys-business-mine-how-menstruations-apps-are-sharing-your-data |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=privacyinternational.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-22|title=Period tracking app says it will stop sharing health data with Facebook |url=https://mashable.com/article/flo-period-tracking-app-will-stop-sharing-data-with-facebook?test_uuid=003aGE6xTMbhuvdzpnH5X4Q&test_variant=a |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=mashable.com}}</ref>

Since 2016, it has been alleged that Flo was sending user's private health information to [[Meta]]. Flo has denied these claims, yet an investigation led by journal Privacy International included them in a group of 36 period-tracking apps which sent data through [[Facebook]]'s Facebook Software Development Kit (SDK); whether or not the user has an account with Facebook.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2019-09-09|title=No Body's Business But Mine: How Menstruation Apps Are Sharing Your Data |url=https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3196/no-bodys-business-mine-how-menstruations-apps-are-sharing-your-data |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=privacyinternational.org}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2019-02-22|title=Period tracking app says it will stop sharing health data with Facebook |url=https://mashable.com/article/flo-period-tracking-app-will-stop-sharing-data-with-facebook?test_uuid=003aGE6xTMbhuvdzpnH5X4Q&test_variant=a |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=mashable.com}}</ref>

===FTC Files Complaint Against Flo (June 22, 2021)===

According to an FTC complaint filed against Flo in 2020, the company shared private and intimate data of individuals to: [[Google]], Meta, AppsFlyer, and Flurry, without users' consent. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-22|title=Flo Health, Inc. |url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/1923133/flo-health-inc |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=ftc.gov}}</ref>

According to an FTC complaint filed against Flo in 2020, the company shared private and intimate data of individuals to: [[Google]], Meta, AppsFlyer, and Flurry, without users' consent. <ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2021-06-22|title=Flo Health, Inc. |url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/1923133/flo-health-inc |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=ftc.gov}}</ref>

===Class Action Lawsuit (2024)===

The Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada, certified a class action lawsuit against Flo due to the findings and allegations of selling personal data without consumer consent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmunk |first=Rhianna |date=2024-03-08|access-date=2025-08-13|title=Lawsuit claiming Flo Health app shared intimate data with Facebook greenlit as Canadian class action |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/flo-health-privacy-class-action-1.7137600c |url-status=live |work=[[CBC Canada]]}}</ref>

The Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada, certified a class action lawsuit against Flo due to the findings and allegations of selling personal data without consumer consent.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Schmunk |first=Rhianna |date=2024-03-08|access-date=2025-08-13|title=Lawsuit claiming Flo Health app shared intimate data with Facebook greenlit as Canadian class action |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/flo-health-privacy-class-action-1.7137600c |url-status=live |work=[[CBC Canada]]}}</ref>

===Lawsuit in California (2025)===

A jury in California unanimously agreed that Flo violated the privacy rights afforded to California users by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for mishandling the data between non-consenting parties. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-04 |title=Frasco v. Flo Health, Inc. - Jury Verdict — Document #756 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/55370837/756/frasco-v-flo-health-inc/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=courtlistener.com}}</ref>

A jury in California unanimously agreed that Flo violated the privacy rights afforded to California users by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for mishandling the data between non-consenting parties. <ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-04 |title=Frasco v. Flo Health, Inc. - Jury Verdict — Document #756 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/55370837/756/frasco-v-flo-health-inc/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=courtlistener.com}}</ref>

==Products==

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 ==Consumer impact summary==
-{{Ph-C-CIS}}
+=== Freedom ===
+Flo, under their [[proprietary software]] license, restricts the rights to modify, resell, rent, lease, loan, sublicense, distribute, or otherwise transfer rights of the product. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-13 |title=Terms of use |url=https://flo.health/terms-of-service |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=flo.health}}</ref>
+A user must register to use the service.<ref name=":1" />
+Flo can change your password at any time at their discretion. <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://flo.health/privacy-policy |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=flo.health}}</ref>
+=== Market Control ===
+Flo is the leading menstrual health app on the market as of 2025. <ref>{{Cite journal |date=2025-08-13 |title=Menstrual Health Apps Market Size, Share & Trends Report
+Menstrual Health Apps Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Platform (Android, iOS), By Application (Period Cycle Tracking, Fertility & Ovulation Management, Menstrual Health Management), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2025 - 2030 |url=https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/menstrual-health-apps-market-report |journal=[[Grand View Research]]}}</ref>
+Flo is the fourth-highest profiting health app currently on the market, directly behind [[MyFitnessPal]], reporting US$263m in 2024 alone. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Curry |first=David |date=2025-01-22 |title=Flo Revenue and Usage Statistics (2025) |url=https://www.businessofapps.com/data/flo-statistics/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=businessofapps.com}}</ref>
+=== Privacy ===
+Upon a user deactivating, abandoning, or deleting their account, Flo states it will retain some data of the user. <ref name=":2" />
+Flo has been subject to various international lawsuits due to selling information of users without their prior consent. Data was sent to multiple third-parties.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />
 ==Incidents==
 ===Selling Data to Meta (2016-2025)===
-Since 2016, it has been alleged that Flo was sending user's private health information to [[Meta]]. Flo has denied these claims, yet an investigation led by journal Privacy International included them in a group of 36 period-tracking apps which sent data through [[Facebook]]'s Facebook Software Development Kit (SDK); whether or not the user has an account with Facebook.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-09|title=No Body's Business But Mine: How Menstruation Apps Are Sharing Your Data |url=https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3196/no-bodys-business-mine-how-menstruations-apps-are-sharing-your-data |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=privacyinternational.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-22|title=Period tracking app says it will stop sharing health data with Facebook |url=https://mashable.com/article/flo-period-tracking-app-will-stop-sharing-data-with-facebook?test_uuid=003aGE6xTMbhuvdzpnH5X4Q&test_variant=a |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=mashable.com}}</ref>
+Since 2016, it has been alleged that Flo was sending user's private health information to [[Meta]]. Flo has denied these claims, yet an investigation led by journal Privacy International included them in a group of 36 period-tracking apps which sent data through [[Facebook]]'s Facebook Software Development Kit (SDK); whether or not the user has an account with Facebook.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2019-09-09|title=No Body's Business But Mine: How Menstruation Apps Are Sharing Your Data |url=https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3196/no-bodys-business-mine-how-menstruations-apps-are-sharing-your-data |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=privacyinternational.org}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2019-02-22|title=Period tracking app says it will stop sharing health data with Facebook |url=https://mashable.com/article/flo-period-tracking-app-will-stop-sharing-data-with-facebook?test_uuid=003aGE6xTMbhuvdzpnH5X4Q&test_variant=a |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=mashable.com}}</ref>
 ===FTC Files Complaint Against Flo (June 22, 2021)===
-According to an FTC complaint filed against Flo in 2020, the company shared private and intimate data of individuals to: [[Google]], Meta, AppsFlyer, and Flurry, without users' consent. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-22|title=Flo Health, Inc. |url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/1923133/flo-health-inc |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=ftc.gov}}</ref>
+According to an FTC complaint filed against Flo in 2020, the company shared private and intimate data of individuals to: [[Google]], Meta, AppsFlyer, and Flurry, without users' consent. <ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2021-06-22|title=Flo Health, Inc. |url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/1923133/flo-health-inc |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=ftc.gov}}</ref>
 ===Class Action Lawsuit (2024)===
-The Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada, certified a class action lawsuit against Flo due to the findings and allegations of selling personal data without consumer consent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmunk |first=Rhianna |date=2024-03-08|access-date=2025-08-13|title=Lawsuit claiming Flo Health app shared intimate data with Facebook greenlit as Canadian class action |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/flo-health-privacy-class-action-1.7137600c |url-status=live |work=[[CBC Canada]]}}</ref>
+The Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada, certified a class action lawsuit against Flo due to the findings and allegations of selling personal data without consumer consent.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Schmunk |first=Rhianna |date=2024-03-08|access-date=2025-08-13|title=Lawsuit claiming Flo Health app shared intimate data with Facebook greenlit as Canadian class action |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/flo-health-privacy-class-action-1.7137600c |url-status=live |work=[[CBC Canada]]}}</ref>
 ===Lawsuit in California (2025)===
-A jury in California unanimously agreed that Flo violated the privacy rights afforded to California users by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for mishandling the data between non-consenting parties. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-04 |title=Frasco v. Flo Health, Inc. - Jury Verdict — Document #756 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/55370837/756/frasco-v-flo-health-inc/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=courtlistener.com}}</ref>
+A jury in California unanimously agreed that Flo violated the privacy rights afforded to California users by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for mishandling the data between non-consenting parties. <ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-04 |title=Frasco v. Flo Health, Inc. - Jury Verdict — Document #756 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/55370837/756/frasco-v-flo-health-inc/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-13|website=courtlistener.com}}</ref>
 ==Products==