Those who live in the American states and other parts of the world where abortion isn't legal (or is likely to be criminalised soon) are being urged to reconsider having period tracking apps on their phone. Experts have raised concerns that the data found within apps that track menstrual cycles, sexual activity and more, along with search engine history, has the potential to become incriminating, should the user later seek an abortion.
Following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade ruling last week, which protected all seeking or performing a termination from prosecution, Gina Neff, a professor of technology and society at University of Oxford, tweeted: "Right now, and I mean this instant, delete every digital trace of any menstrual tracking."
Neff later added, "Americans lack fundamental privacy protections. Post-Roe makes that tragically clear. For many women, post-Roe privacy is more urgent. But privacy is even more important for ALL of us now.
"Law enforcement agencies have already targeted Google searches for 'abortion pills', text messages, and DNA databases (23andMe! and Ancestry.com) in prosecuting women for abortions and miscarriages."
These concerns are something apps such as Natural Cycles are aware of, according to a new BBC report, in which a spokesperson for the app explained although user data is "safe and will be protected" that currently they're working on "creating a completely anonymous experience for users [...] The goal is to make it so that no-one - not even Natural Cycles - can identify the user".
The same concerns relating to Google searches were also raised in an open letter to the online search engine earlier this year, signed by politicians such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. In the correspondence, addressed to Sundar Pichai (Google's Chief Executive Officer), the signees wrote: "We are concerned that... Google’s current practice of collecting and retaining extensive records of cell phone location data will allow it to become a tool for far-right extremists looking to crack down on people seeking reproductive health care.
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"That’s because Google stores historical location information about hundreds of millions of smartphone users, which it routinely shares with government agencies... Law enforcement officials routinely obtain court orders forcing Google to turn over its customers' location information."
As yet, Google have not publicly responded to the letter, however other big name companies (many within the tech sphere) including Meta, Amazon and Disney have pledged to support and fund employees seeking to end a pregnancy.
The Electronic Foundation Frontier have published advice for anybody seeking out information on abortion (in a place where it is against the law) here.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
