Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, there has been a growing concern over period tracking apps. Many women are concerned about the safety of their private health information. This concern is even more pressing in red states where restrictive reproductive health legislation bans abortion and criminalizes miscarriage. In these states, period tracking apps can potentially be used as evidence against women in the event they do have an abortion.
Trump’s recent exchange with a Time Magazine reporter is an alarming foreshadowing of how the anti-abortion government can weaponize personal health information on these cycle-tracking apps. When asked whether red states will use period tracking apps to enforce abortion laws, the Republican Presidential candidate responded, “I think they might do that.”
Several period tracking apps are taking precautionary measures to prevent the government from using their users’ personal healthcare data against them. Planned Parenthood’s Spot On app “does not store your information or personal data,” and neither does the app Euki. However, if the government demands that they hand over information, what responsibilities these companies might have is unclear.
While the concerns about digital privacy are indeed warranted, the greatest threat comes from those you may confide in. If a person tells a friend or a healthcare provider that they received an abortion, they can decide to take it upon themselves to report you to law enforcement. In states like Texas, there is a financial incentive for reporting women who received abortions. The “Bounty Hunter Law” pays private citizens if they are successful in suing anyone who helped a pregnant person get an abortion.
The future of reproductive rights remains uncertain. But one thing is for sure: Women must stay vigilant about their personal healthcare information and the potential risks of sharing it. It’s important to be aware of these threats and mindful of who you trust with sensitive information.
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