Faculty
Health Sciences
Supervisor Name
Jessica Polzer
Keywords
self-tracking, menstrual and fertility tracking applications, Roe v. Wade, data security
Description
In the first section of the paper, I will place current conversations about data privacy within the broader context of restrictions that have been placed on reproductive rights by examining historical trajectories. Emphasis will be placed on the historical trajectory of how past policies and ideologies have worked against Roe v. Wade, and how this trajectory contributes to a decrease in access to abortions. In addition, recent news stories have documented the overturning of Roe v. Wade in several jurisdictions within the United States, which confirms the criminalization of abortion. In light of this, experts have raised awareness about the risk of sharing personal data on MFTAs as these online apps can potentially release data that may expose women who seek to have an abortion which would ultimately result in prosecution. The second section of the paper aims to gather and summarize the range of concerns on data security and privacy in relation to the recent implementation of criminalized abortion laws in the U.S. due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
This paper aimed to provide current literature with a new understanding of menstrual and fertility tracking applications in a post Roe v. Wade era. In addition, the paper aimed to show how responses to the overturning of Roe v. Wade is historically significant.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my supervisor Jessica Polzer, Co-supervisor Laura Cayen, Western's USRI program, and the Faculty of Health Studies for their support.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Document Type
Paper
Included in
Health Information Technology Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Women's Health Commons
Menstrual and Fertility Tracking Apps and the Post Roe v. Wade Era
In the first section of the paper, I will place current conversations about data privacy within the broader context of restrictions that have been placed on reproductive rights by examining historical trajectories. Emphasis will be placed on the historical trajectory of how past policies and ideologies have worked against Roe v. Wade, and how this trajectory contributes to a decrease in access to abortions. In addition, recent news stories have documented the overturning of Roe v. Wade in several jurisdictions within the United States, which confirms the criminalization of abortion. In light of this, experts have raised awareness about the risk of sharing personal data on MFTAs as these online apps can potentially release data that may expose women who seek to have an abortion which would ultimately result in prosecution. The second section of the paper aims to gather and summarize the range of concerns on data security and privacy in relation to the recent implementation of criminalized abortion laws in the U.S. due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
This paper aimed to provide current literature with a new understanding of menstrual and fertility tracking applications in a post Roe v. Wade era. In addition, the paper aimed to show how responses to the overturning of Roe v. Wade is historically significant.