We Need More Encrypted Period Trackers
More women are seeking data protected apps to monitor their cycles
According to a survey published by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2019, nearly a third of American women have been using period trackers. This is not different from what happens in Europe. During the last weeks, we have been reading about the harms of period trackers and their disrespect to data privacy. Now is the time to use encrypted period apps if we want to continue overseeing our cycle with the use of technology.
Mico Yuk, a data evangelist, participated recently in an interview for the Daily Mail about the importance of using encrypted technology to control women’s periods. In her opinion, women should protect their data privacy when using this kind of systems. Many of the popular apps, used around the globe by millions of women, collect, retain and share user’s data. Women not only use them to track their period, they use it to register their sexual activity, or control the use of contraceptive methods. With western governments revoking the right to abortion, women must find safer ways of following their reproductive lives, and Yuk gives two good examples of apps that can protect them from being targeted.
She mentions Period Plus and Natural Cycles as excellent examples of what a cycle app should be. For example, they explicitly explain to their users their data will always be protected. And this is a key aspect to take into account. Their commitment is connected to the freedom of what women want to do to their bodies without being exposed. In addition, they can also protect themselves by using an alias email when using these trackers.
In the article, she suggests creating an alternative email account to sign up if we do not want our data to be leaked and disclosed. Besides, she recommends using one that is not connected directly to a search engine and use a different browser rather than Google, like for instance Firefox, which is more focused on privacy.
Encrypted period trackers can help us monitor our reproductive lives whilst taking care of our data safety. As mentioned in the previous paragraphs, there are mechanisms women can use to avoid exposing themselves, but in the end depends on them to check if the apps they are using will not resell their data to other companies.
