UK mental health charities handed sensitive data to Facebook for targeted ads

Embedded tracking tool revealed details of users’ visits to content on depression, self-harm and eating disorders

Some of Britain’s biggest charities providing support for people with mental health problems shared details of sensitive web browsing with Facebook for use in its targeted advertising system.

The data was sent via a tracking tool embedded in the charities’ websites and included details of webpages a user visited and buttons they clicked across content linked to depression, self-harm and eating disorders.