Cape Cod Healthcare Beats Suit Over Meta, Google Data Sharing

Cape Cod Healthcare Inc. defeated a proposed class action alleging it disclosed patients’ sensitive health data to Meta Platforms Inc. and Google LLC without consent in violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

Lead plaintiffs Debra Goulart and Michael Garbitt failed to adequately allege that Cape Cod Healthcare disclosed their information to Meta’s Facebook unit and Google for the purpose of committing a criminal violation or tort, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts said Tuesday. Such a purpose is a requirement for ECPA liability for a party to the communication, according to Judge Richard G. Stearns.

Stearns ...