Period Tracking Should Not Be a Threat to Women’s Privacy

By: Sue Khan

It seems every day there is another news story across the globe making women feel a sense of fear or uncertainty about how their data is being used, or could be used, by their period and ovulation tracking apps.

Most recently, news out of our home base in the U.K. revealed that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has issued guidance to its officers to search women’s phones and health applications, “such as menstrual cycle and fertility trackers.” To date, Flo has not received any such requests. 

Not only do these actions breed fear and hostility for women who are already going through an undoubtedly traumatic medical experience, they set a dangerous precedent for weaponizing technology built to serve women’s needs. 

As the VP of Security and DPO at Flo Health, it felt important to take the time to speak out on this unsettling news not only to our users, but to women at large. 

Women deserve to be able to use technology to learn more about their bodies and their personal health, without fearing their data will be unjustly used or taken in a way they have not agreed upon.

At Flo, the privacy of our users is paramount to us. We will always advocate for the protection of individuals’ privacy rights, and challenge the legal validity of any disclosure request. 

It is worrying that governments are increasingly seeking ways to weaken or bypass end-to-end encryption, and when this happens alternative protections should also be considered so user data is not vulnerable.

There is a best in class option for going one step further in protecting your privacy by implementing Anonymous Mode, a first-of-its-kind technology that gives you the option to access the Flo Health app without your name, email address, or any technical identifiers being associated with your health data. This means nobody, not even Flo, could identify you if pressed.

Flo’s Anonymous Mode ensures that no single party ever holds identifiable user data in any event, making it a robust and reliable privacy solution.

Women’s health remains underserved. Femtech solutions can empower women and people who menstruate to take control of their health, offering vital services ranging from early period tracking to menopause support. Women should be able to rely on technology to support their needs. It is essential to ensure women feel well-informed, and not fearful of accessing safe tools that they can rely on for their well-being. 

I wholeheartedly believe that it is your body, your data, and women should always be in control of what they share. At Flo, we'll never ask you to log information about a miscarriage, abortion or anything else you prefer to keep private. You can also access, update, or delete your data anytime, from anywhere in the world, and your information is always treated in accordance with Flo’s Privacy Policy.

This is a complex topic, in complex times - and I am always open to hearing questions or concerns you may have about the privacy of your data on a women’s health application. You can drop me a line anytime at dpo@flo.health 🩷