Warning that online health forums may share personal details

Many people do not realise what happens to their data because they fail to read the terms and conditions or the privacy policy of the website.

People who join online health forums and share personal health details are often unaware that pharmaceutical companies, medical researchers and patient advocacy groups may have access to the information — a pitfall researchers at University College Cork (UCC) are seeking to address.

An ongoing project investigating the area of digital consent for patients using social media platforms (SMPs) has found many do not realise what happens to their data because they fail to read the terms and conditions or the privacy policy of the website.