Period tracking apps pose privacy risks following US abortion rulings

Following the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning the federal right to abortion access in the United States, period tracking applications have emerged as potential privacy risks. In states where abortion access is restricted or penalized, menstrual and ovulation cycle data stored in these apps could be used as evidence by law enforcement to identify individuals seeking reproductive healthcare.

These applications often collect and store sensitive health data both locally on devices and in the cloud. This information may be shared with third parties, including advertisers and law enforcement agencies. For instance, the privacy policy for Planned Parenthood’s Spot On app indicates that personal information may be shared with third-party affiliates and law enforcement.