John,

We’ve warned in the past about Big Tech: its refusal to allow fact-based abortion care while letting disinformation flourish [1], its seeming willingness to allow user data to be weaponized to criminalize those seeking, providing and supporting abortion care [2], and more.

We’ve been at the forefront in holding Big Tech accountable for these harms. Help with a donation today.

Most recently, a jury concluded that Meta illegally collected menstrual data from the popular period-track app, Flo. [3]

Not only does this show a complete disregard for sensitive health data, it can also put users at risk of unethical, authoritarian leaders. In one example, the state of Missouri previously kept a spreadsheet tracking the menstrual periods of Planned Parenthood patients as part of its misguided crusade against the reproductive health care provider. [4] So yes, extreme caution is warranted.

Health data is and must always remain private.

Sincerely,

Erin Matson
Co-Founder, President, & CEO, Reproaction

P.S. Abortion access includes over the web. Give to help keep Big Tech accountable to all abortion seekers.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/11/business/abortion-groups-tech-platforms.html
[2] https://www.americanprogress.org/article/stopping-the-abuse-of-tech-in-surveilling-and-criminalizing-abortion/
[3] https://www.theverge.com/news/753469/meta-flo-period-tracker-lawsuit-verdict
[4] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/missouri-health-director-tracked-menstrual-periods-planned-parenthood-patients-n1073701

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