Archive · 11 Jun 2025
Report: Period Tracking Apps Pose Risks to Privacy
Imagine using an app to track your periods.
This app gathers lots of info about your body.
Unfortunately, this data could be used to hurt you.
Advertisers love this data because it helps them sell you stuff.
But, your info could also be used against you by employers, or even the government.
In some places, this data can be used to restrict women's access to healthcare.
Most women don't realize how much their data is worth and how easily it can be misused.
Period tracking app data may be misused, potentially leading to job denial and cyberstalking.
Advertisers find pregnancy data particularly valuable for targeted marketing.
Many users are unaware of the commercial value and privacy risks associated with their data.
In the US, lack of legal regulations makes data vulnerable, potentially impacting abortion access.
Apps collect various data points, including menstrual cycles, reproductive choices, and health.
- Who
- Users of period tracking apps.
- What
- Period tracking app data is at risk of misuse, potentially impacting users' privacy and rights.
- When
- A recent report was published on June 10.
- Where
- US, UK, and European Union.
- Why
- To highlight the risks associated with period tracking app data and the lack of privacy protections.
Users
App Developers
Privacy vs Security
Users
Users share personal information with period tracking apps.
App Developers
App data can be used to deny healthcare, or impact reproductive choices.
- Report Publisher
- University of Cambridge’s Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy
- Data Value to Advertisers
- Pregnancy data is 200 times more valuable than age, gender, or location.
- Data Collected
- Menstrual cycle data, reproductive choices, sexual activities, wellbeing, health, medication intake, age, gender, IP addresses, app behaviour, and device information.
- US Regulation
- Apps are regulated as general wellness devices, with minimal data protection.
- Legal Protections
- More legal protections in the UK and EU, but often poorly implemented.