Pharma’s digital marketing in crosshairs, as FTC’s plan to curb ‘commercial surveillance’ gains steam

Abortion rights groups were among those expressing support last week for a Federal Trade Commission proposal to regulate data-driven “surveillance marketing.” Among the digital tactics they’re urging the agency to tamp down on is the use of health information by pharma and medical marketers.

The FTC gave notice in August that it was exploring rules to regulate what it considers harmful commercial surveillance and lax data security. At that time, the agency also put out a call for comment, which expired last Tuesday.