Group 1: Tracking Pregnancy and Health by KSC Librarians

Article: https://www.hipaajournal.com/jury-trial-meta-flo-health-consumer-privacy/

2025-09-24 18:01:20 UTC

Flo= #1 moble product for womens health
Uses personal information (sex habits, health habits, mood, etc) to predict ovulation date
Flo stated that "repeated assurances that the information provided would remain private and confidential and would not be shared with any third parties, unless the user provided explicit consent"
"sensitive data was shared with third parties via software development kits (SDKs) incorporated into the Flo App."

Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/abigaildubiniecki/2024/11/14/post-roe-your-period-app-data-could-be-used-against-you/

2025-09-24 18:24:54 UTC

"The report identified at least 210 cases in which pregnant people faced criminal charges associated with pregnancy, abortion, pregnancy loss or birth in the first year after the Dobbs decision."
“Pregnancy as a Crime shows that in the post-Dobbs environment, pregnant people are under increased surveillance and are getting arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated for any actions that have a perceived risk of harm to the pregnancy.”
health and Commerical data have different regulatory requirements. When you give personal health data to an app, it has fewer safeguards than physicians might have in place.
"Many femtech apps contain third-party trackers that share user data across complex data ecosystems with third parties for targeted advertising, analytics and algorithmic improvement."

2025-09-24 18:59:36 UTC

Post-Dobbs highlights the risk of personal data being misused. Courts now recognize privacy violations as real crimes. Now Big Tech must be more careful concerning data so that it doesn't face lawsuits.

Opioid App Data Sharing

2025-09-24 20:11:55 UTC

There was an increase in telehealth after COVID-19, due to the rapid spread of the disease as well as budget cuts. Software Development Kits were found in 7/10 apps (these kits collect data and user data for third parties). Many privacy laws don't apply to apps, leaving space for confusion/ wiggle room for apps to take advantage of their users data.

2025-09-25 16:20:27 UTC

“People seeking help for opioid addiction are among the most vulnerable, and their data deserves the highest level of protection.”

This quote stood out because it’s true, people dealing with opioid addiction are some of the most vulnerable. Taking their personal data without clear consent feels wrong, especially when they’re just trying to get help.

2025-09-25 16:50:08 UTC

“Flo Health told users that ‘their sensitive reproductive health information’ and survey questions would not be disclosed, but that personal data ended up being shared with companies like Meta and Google.”

Having used the app myself, learning that it was secretly collecting and sharing personal data is unsettling. It makes me wonder what other information companies are taking, and what else they’re getting away with behind the scenes.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/abortion-advocates-fear-period-tracking-apps-prosecute-abortion/story?id=85925714

2025-09-25 17:03:51 UTC

“If you are using an online period tracker or tracking your cycles through your phone, get off it and delete your data. Now."

Discovering that period-tracking apps could be used to prosecute people seeking abortions is deeply unsettling. It raises serious questions about how much of our personal data is being monitored, and what else companies, or even governments, might be able to access without our knowledge or consent.

2025-09-25 18:29:58 UTC

"This is a landmark moment in the effort to safeguard digital privacy rights," said Michael Canty of Labaton Keller Sucharow, the plaintiffs' legal representation. "Our clients entrusted their most sensitive information to a health app, only to have it exploited by one of the world’s most powerful tech companies," he reportedly told the Courthouse News Service.

This is important because it shows that people’s private health information, something very personal and sensitive, was not properly protected. Instead, it was allegedly misused by a big tech company. The case highlights how important it is for companies to respect digital privacy rights, especially when people trust them with their most personal data.

"Many of the apps examined are also obtaining location information in some form, which when correlated with these unique identifiers, strengthens the capability for surveilling an individual person, as well as their daily habits, behaviors, and who they interact with"

2025-09-25 19:12:24 UTC

Flo

2025-09-25 19:29:06 UTC

"sensitive data was shared with third parties via software development kits (SDKs) incorporated into the Flo App."

Public Service Announcement

2025-09-25 20:09:21 UTC

Did you know that 70% of health apps have data tracking kits to share your data with third parties?

Health apps require vulnerable information from their customers and it is concerning that this is being shared. Women's health apps in particular are tracking and sharing details such as sex life, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, interest in abortion, etc. These apps are also tracking specific habits of pregnant women to make sure there is no risk or harm to the pregnancy.

People need to understand that health and commercial data have different regulatory requirements. When you give personal health data online it has fewer safe guards than a physicians office might. People need to be more aware and particular with the information they are choosing to share with apps related to health.

if you're using one of these apps, get off it now and delete your data!