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Legal Updates: Privacy, Small Business, and Trade Fraud

This week, learn about a major lawsuit against a telehealth provider for privacy violations, new guidance on trade fraud, and how the SEC supports small businesses.

consumer protectionprivacysmall businesstrade fraudgovernment action

This week in 60 seconds

  • Hims & Hers is sued by the FTC and states for sharing private health data and unfair billing [4].
  • The Department of Justice issued new guidance to help businesses avoid trade fraud [10].
  • The SEC held its 45th annual forum to discuss ways to help small businesses raise money [2].

Hims & Hers Sued for Privacy and Billing Issues

In one line: Telehealth company Hims & Hers faces a lawsuit from the FTC and state partners for allegedly sharing private health information and misleading customers about billing [4].

What happened

  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Utah, and Los Angeles County (California) sued Hims & Hers [4].

  • The lawsuit claims the company shared sensitive health information with advertising platforms like Meta and Snap [4].

  • Hims & Hers also allegedly charged customers for prescriptions almost immediately after they filled out intake forms, despite promising medical consultations [4].

  • The FTC further alleges that the company made it difficult for customers to cancel subscriptions [4].

Why it matters to you

  • This case reminds you to always read privacy policies carefully, especially when sharing sensitive information online.
  • It also highlights the importance of checking billing practices and cancellation terms before signing up for subscription services.

Quick facts

  • Who is affected: Customers who used Hims & Hers services [4].
  • How to act: Be cautious when sharing personal health information with online services and review their privacy and billing policies [4].

The FTC's complaint lays out a troubling scenario, consumers unknowingly locked into recurring subscriptions and the disclosure to third parties of consumers’ most private health information without their consent [4].

New Guide Helps Businesses Avoid Trade Fraud

In one line: The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a new guide to help businesses understand and prevent trade fraud [10].

What happened

  • The Trade Fraud Task Force, a group from the DOJ and DHS, published "A Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement" [10].

  • This guide explains federal laws and enforcement practices related to customs and trade fraud [10].

  • It aims to protect the nation's economy, domestic industries, and consumers from harmful goods [10].

  • The guide provides real-world examples to show how the laws are enforced [10].

Why it matters to you

  • If you own a business that imports or exports goods, this guide can help you avoid legal issues.
  • It helps ensure that products entering the U.S. meet safety standards and are fairly priced, which can protect you as a consumer [10].

Quick facts

  • Who is affected: Businesses, individuals, and attorneys involved in customs and trade [10].
  • How to act: Businesses should review the guide to ensure their practices follow federal trade and customs laws [10].

SEC Forum Discusses Small Business Growth

In one line: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held its 45th annual forum to gather ideas on how to help small businesses get funding [2].

What happened

  • The SEC hosts this Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation every year [2].

  • Participants, including the public and private sectors, give feedback to the SEC and Congress [2].

  • The forum covers many topics, from funding for new businesses to issues for smaller public companies [2].

  • Recommendations from the forum are used to shape policies that affect small businesses [2].

Why it matters to you

  • This event helps create rules that support small businesses, which can lead to more jobs and local economic growth.
  • It also influences how small companies can raise money, potentially opening up more investment opportunities for you.

Quick facts

  • Who is affected: Small business owners, investors, and anyone interested in economic growth [2].
  • How to act: You can find past reports and materials from these forums online to learn more about policy discussions [2].

This weekly briefing is generated from publicly available materials (SEC, FTC, DOJ, CFPB, CourtListener) for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify details with the linked primary sources.

Sources

Every fact above links back to a primary source.

  1. 1.S-1/Asec.gov
  2. 2.2026 Report on the 45th Annual Small Business Forumsec.gov
  3. 3.care-20260727sec.gov
  4. 4.FTC and States Act Against Hims & Hers for Deceptive and ...ftc.gov
  5. 5.Legal Library: Search | Federal Trade Commissionftc.gov
  6. 6.Kids' Privacy (COPPA) | Federal Trade Commissionftc.gov
  7. 7.Case Document Searchftc.gov
  8. 8.Emerging Trends in Civil Litigationjustice.gov
  9. 9.All News | United States Department of Justicejustice.gov
  10. 10.A Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement, July 2026justice.gov
  11. 11.Lymphedema & Wound Care Institute Settle False Claims ...justice.gov
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