S.T.O.P. Expresses Concern At Surgeon General’s Troubled Health Privacy Record

S.T.O.P. warned Dr. Casey Means, President Trump’s U.S. Surgeon General nominee, has a troubling track record with Americans’ health data privacy.

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Concerned By Surgeon General Pick’s Health Privacy Record (New York, NY 5/9/2025) – Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, warned Dr. Casey Means, President Trump’s U.S. Surgeon General nominee, has a troubling track record with Americans’ health data privacy. Alongside DOGE leader Sam Corcos, Means co-founded the health tracking firm Levels, selling wearable glucose monitors. The firm has drawn scrutiny for its data collection practices that give it broad latitude to sell patient data. SEE: The Guardian - Casey Means: influencer, RFK Jr favorite – and Trump’s pick for surgeon general https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/11/casey-means-surgeon-general-pick The Washington Post - DOGE aims to pool federal data, putting personal information at risk https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/doge-government-data-immigration-social-security/ "The last thing America needs is Doctor DOGE,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn.  "As we see unprecedented corporate cooperation with the government to mine Americans’ data, it’s deeply concerning to see a surgeon general nominee with this record. Health data is some of the most sensitive information we have, and Dr. Means appears to have been unwilling to prioritize privacy protections.  Health data privacy is especially urgent in light of far-right attacks on abortion access and gender affirming care.” S.T.O.P. has previously condemned health tech companies selling wearables that enable mass surveillance, including Pretaa Fitbit’s real-time biometric monitoring of patients in recovery for substance use disorders. SEE: Tech Policy Press - The Virtual Asylum Replacing Mental Healthcare https://www.techpolicy.press/the-virtual-asylum-replacing-mental-healthcare/ The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   -- END -- Copyright © 2025 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.