Period Tracker Roe v Wade: What does Period Tracking Apps Got To Do With Roe v Wade?

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, activists and data privacy experts are concerned about how period information could be used to indicate that someone had an abortion or was considering having one.

On a typical period tracking app, users enter information such as when their flow began and ended, how heavy it was, and other physiological symptoms.

The app then typically learns the user’s tendencies and assists in predicting when their next period will arrive, when they will be most fertile, and if they have missed a period and should take a pregnancy test.

The period-tracking apps Flo and Clue are attempting to convince their combined 55 million users that personal data entered into both apps are safe.

The very real concern is that in states that choose to outright ban abortion, six have already gone into effect automatically, with 16 more expected before the end of 2022, women’s private mobile phone data will be used against them as states look to prosecute anyone who has had an abortion or even a miscarriage.