Government Issues New Tool To Help Mobile App Developers Identify Applicable Federal Laws

This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) released an interactive tool (entitled the "Mobile Health Apps Interactive Tool") that is intended to help developers identify the federal law(s) that apply to apps that collect, create and share consumer information, including health information. The interactive series of questions and answers augments and cross-references existing guidance from the US Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) that helps individuals and entities—including app developers—understand when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its rules may apply.  The tool is also intended to help developers determine whether their app is subject to regulation as a medical device by the FDA, or subject to certain requirements under the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) or the FTC's Health Breach Notification Rule. The Commission developed the tool in conjunction with HHS, FDA and the Office of the