A study released today explains that data brokers in the U.S. are selling long lists of people who suffer from various mental health conditions.

The study, which was undertaken by Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, states that these shady brokers have been compiling lists of Americans who suffer from ailments such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The information might come with various details, including name, email address, home address, ethnicity, wage bracket and even information about people’s children.

Data brokers are nothing new. They exist in a part of the internet that is somewhat lawless, despite some politicians wanting that to change and despite the shadowy practice being roundly condemned by the public. It seems some brokers have now sunk to a new low, exploiting what has been a tough time for Americans’ mental health through the pandemic.

People who sought out help through online therapy sessions or with the various apps available for mental health conditions may have unwittingly become part of the giant packages the researchers were offered. Some of the brokers were selling data at bargain basement prices, with one company saying for just $275, they would provide the “ailment contacts” of 1,000 people. One firm offered data relating to 10,000 people, starting at a dime per health record, but for 435,780 records, it worked out at 60 cents per person.

Not all the companies offered personalized data, with one offering to sell the researchers information on how many people might suffer from depression in certain zip codes. Some brokers offered a yearly subscription package costing anywhere between $75,000 and $100,000, in which they promised to provide constant access to such sensitive data.

“There are data brokers which advertise and are willing and able to sell data concerning Americans’ highly sensitive mental health information,” study author Joanne Kim said. “The research is critical as more depressed and anxious individuals utilize personal devices and software-based health-tracking applications.”

Kim said that of the 37 brokers that were contacted, 26 responded to requests for mental health data, but only 11 said they had packages they were willing to sell. Each of those was willing to sell the information without asking for a significant background check on the customer.

“The firms seem either unaware of or loosely concerned about providing comprehensive privacy protections,” wrote Kim. “The lack of regulation  in the U.S. and the opaque nature of the data broker industry has allowed data brokers that sell Americans’ mental health data to maintain inconsistent business practices concerning data quality, accuracy, deidentification, data aggregation, data procurement and data storage.”

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