The most popular period and pregnancy tracking apps don’t have strong privacy protections, according to a new analysis from researchers at Mozilla. Leaking privacy policies in health apps is always a problem, but problems that fall into this particular category is especially concerning now that abortion is illegal in many places in the United States.
Period and pregnancy tracking apps collect data that could theoretically be used to prosecute people who have abortions in places where it is illegal. Data from period-tracking apps isn’t the main thing tying people to abortion right now — usually, the digital data used in those cases comes from text messages, Google searches, or Facebook posts. But they are still potential risks.
“Companies that collect personal and sensitive health information need to be extra diligent when it comes to the privacy and security of the personal information they collect, especially now in our post-Roe vs Wade world in the U.S. Unfortunately, too many are not, Jen Caltrider, the Mozilla *Privacy not included guide, said in a statement.
The analysis looked at 25 of the most popular apps and wearables with period and pregnancy tracking features. Most did not say if or when they would share information with law enforcement, the report found. Eighteen of the 25 received warning labels from Mozilla about their privacy practices, including the Clue Period & Cycle Tracker and Eve, both of which top the Apple App Store’s bike tracking app recommendations. The label notes that Mozilla is concerned about the apps’ privacy policies and how they collect, share, and protect user data.
However, the five wearable devices included in the analysis were not given warning labels. Garmin, Fitbit, Apple Watch, Oura Ring, and Whoop Strap include time-tracking features and meet Mozilla’s privacy standards.
Mozilla released a similar report on mental health apps in May this year and also found those products poorly protected users’ privacy. You can see the full *Privacy not included guide here.
