Betterhelp Bid to Reveal Plaintiffs’ Names in Privacy Suit Fails

Betterhelp Inc. can’t require plaintiffs in a proposed class action to publicly disclose their names as they sue the mental health platform for improperly disclosing their information to third-party advertisers.

“Requiring plaintiffs to disclose their actual names will arguably cause a further and greater privacy intrusion” than the alleged failure to maintain confidentiality that animates the case, Judge Richard Seeborg of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said Thursday.

• Betterhelp’s counsel has the names, but argued that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require plaintiffs to disclose their names, especially as proposed class representatives, to promote ...