Healthline Media

Healthline.com is a digital publisher of health and wellness information, offering articles, news, and resources on a wide range of medical conditions and lifestyle topics. The company generates revenue through advertising, sponsored content, and affiliate programs, targeting consumers with health-related information. While not a traditional data broker, Healthline collects significant personal and sensitive data based on users' browsing activity, including the articles they read about specific health conditions. This practice poses privacy risks, as browsing data, including visits to pages on sensitive topics like HIV or depression, has been shared with third-party advertisers and data brokers for targeted advertising. This can lead to users being profiled based on their health interests and receiving highly specific pharmaceutical ads without their direct consent. To protect their privacy, individuals should be mindful of their browsing activity, utilize privacy settings on the site, and use tools like the Global Privacy Control signal, which Healthline is now required to honor.