Index
Washington My Health My Data Act
Summary
The MHMD Act is a massive privacy law passed to protect people seeking abortions or gender-affirming care. It strictly regulates how any app or website collects and sells consumer health data.
Rights & Rules
- 01.A website or app (like a period tracker, a diet app, or a search engine) CANNOT collect, share, or sell your personal health data without your explicitly signed consent.
- 02.The definition of 'health data' is incredibly broad; it includes things like your search history for medical symptoms or tracking your location near a healthcare clinic.
- 03.Companies are completely BANNED from setting up a 'geofence' (a digital tracking border) around a medical facility to track people going in or out.
Penalties
- 01.Unlike many other state privacy laws, the MHMD Act allows a 'private right of action.' This means you, the consumer, can personally sue a company for violating your health data privacy, making this law incredibly dangerous for non-compliant tech companies.
Verified Citations
Washington House Bill 1155 (2023)
Source"It is unlawful for any person to implement a geofence around an entity that provides in-person health care services where such geofence is used to: (1) Identify or track consumers seeking health care services; (2) collect consumer health data from consumers; or (3) send notifications, messages, or advertisements..."