A new report from the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) highlights a growing health privacy crisis in the United States, driven by surveillance and immigration enforcement. Factors such as data brokers, ad-tech tracking, and actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are eroding patient trust and discouraging people from seeking medical care. This leads to delayed treatments and poorer health outcomes.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has released a report detailing what it calls a “health privacy crisis” affecting medical care across the United States. Published on January 21, 2026, the document points to multiple contributors exacerbating the issue.
Key elements include the presence of immigration agents in hospitals, which creates fear among patients. Additionally, private companies operate data brokers that buy and sell information revealing individuals' medical visits, often through ad-tech surveillance. These practices, combined with weak limits on law enforcement, are pushing people away from necessary care.
As a result, patients are retreating from treatment options, leading to delays in medical attention and worsening health results. The report emphasizes how this erosion of trust undermines the healthcare system, particularly for vulnerable communities.
EPIC's analysis underscores the need for stronger privacy protections in health data handling. While the report does not propose specific policy changes, it serves as a stark warning about the intersection of surveillance technologies and government actions in everyday health decisions.
This crisis highlights broader concerns over data privacy in an era of increasing digital tracking and enforcement activities.
