Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, PRIVACY NEWS: FTC files complaint against LabMD for failing to protect consumers' privacy, (Aug 29, 2013)

The FTC announced today the filing of a complaint against medical testing laboratory LabMD, Inc., alleging that the company failed to reasonably protect the security of consumers’ personal data, including medical information (In the Matter of LabMD, Inc., FTC File No. 102 3099, Docket No. 9357). The complaint alleges that in two separate incidents, LabMD collectively exposed the personal information of approximately 10,000 consumers.

The complaint alleges that LabMD billing information for over 9,000 consumers was found on a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network and then, in 2012, LabMD documents containing sensitive personal information of at least 500 consumers were found in the hands of identity thieves. The case is part of an ongoing effort by the Commission to ensure that companies take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect consumers’ personal data.

LabMD conducts laboratory tests on samples that physicians obtain from consumers and then provide to the company for testing. The company performs medical testing for consumers around the country. According to the FTC, LabMD:

• did not implement or maintain a comprehensive data security program to protect this information;

• did not use readily available measures to identify commonly known or reasonably foreseeable security risks and vulnerabilities to this information;

• did not use adequate measures to prevent employees from accessing personal information not needed to perform their jobs;

• did not adequately train employees on basic security practices;

• and did not use readily available measures to prevent and detect unauthorized access to personal information.

The complaint alleges that a LabMD spreadsheet containing insurance billing information was found on a P2P network. The spreadsheet contained sensitive personal information for more than 9,000 consumers, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, health insurance provider information, and standardized medical treatment codes. P2P software is commonly used to share music, videos, and other materials with other users of compatible software.

“The unauthorized exposure of consumers’ personal data puts them at risk,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is committed to ensuring that firms who collect that data use reasonable and appropriate security measures to prevent it from falling into the hands of identity thieves and other unauthorized users.”

The complaint also alleges that in 2012 the Sacramento, California Police Department found LabMD documents in the possession of identity thieves. These documents contained personal information, including names, Social Security numbers, and, in some instances, bank account information, of at least 500 consumers. The complaint alleges that a number of these Social Security numbers are being or have been used by more than one person with different names, which may be an indicator of identity theft.

The complaint includes a proposed order against LabMD that would prevent future violations of law by requiring the company to implement a comprehensive information security program, and have that program evaluated every two years by an independent, certified security professional for the next 20 years. The order would also require the company to provide notice to consumers whose information LabMD has reason to believe was or could have been accessible to unauthorized persons and to consumers’ health insurance companies.

The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and notice order was 4-0.

Companies: LabMD, Inc.

News: Privacy ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews