A federal judge certified four classes in a lawsuit alleging that Meta Platforms’ Pixel tracking technology secretly collected sensitive patient health information and used it for targeted advertising. The judge rejected Meta’s argument that differences among patients and health care providers made a class action unworkable.
The ruling allows the claims to proceed on a class-wide basis, potentially exposing Meta to significant liability and increased scrutiny of its data privacy practices. The case adds to challenges facing the company over its handling of user data and its effects on privacy.