Podcast Summary
Abortion surveillance: Location data, ad tech data, and everyday consumer apps can be used for abortion surveillance potentially leading to individuals being jailed.
The threat to privacy for those seeking abortions isn't limited to menstrual tracking apps, but can come from various digital data sources. Albert FoxCanton, founder of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, warns that location data, ad tech data, and other everyday consumer apps can be used for abortion surveillance. While some period tracking apps have made efforts to protect user privacy after Roe v. Wade was overturned, there are still numerous sources of data being used to police abortions and potentially put individuals in jail. It's crucial to be aware of the potential risks and to use privacy-focused apps and settings to protect sensitive information.
Data privacy, Threat modeling: Consider who could potentially misuse your information and take steps to reduce the amount of vulnerable information on a daily basis to protect your privacy.
While innovative features in apps were once used to protect users and gain market share, the real threat to sensitive information has shifted from the apps themselves to external parties. Over the past few years, there have been numerous instances of people being arrested or prosecuted based on seemingly unrelated data such as search engine results, text messages, and location data. Albert Fox-Con, founder of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, advises consumers to go through threat modeling, consider who could potentially misuse their information, and take steps to reduce the amount of vulnerable information on a daily basis. In the context of reproductive health, seeking an abortion is a sensitive matter that requires careful consideration beforehand, as by the time one is seeking medical care, the privacy of the information may already be at risk. Meanwhile, for those concerned about climate change, there are actions they can take to make a difference, from reducing home carbon footprints to eating climate-friendly diets. For more information and practical solutions, listen to the How We Survive podcast.
Privacy in Digital Age: Despite challenges, staying informed and taking proactive steps to protect privacy is crucial in the digital age, especially when it comes to location data collection by companies and potential use of apps as policing tools in healthcare contexts.
Protecting privacy in the digital age is a challenging task, especially when it comes to apps collecting location data. Companies like Google and Facebook make it difficult for individuals to opt out of data collection entirely. However, collective action and advocacy have led to some progress, such as Google's announcement to move location data to users' devices to prevent compliance with geofence warrants. The discussion also highlighted the urgent need for abortion care and the potential weaponization of apps as policing tools in the context of abortion prosecutions. The arms race to use data for policing purposes is escalating, and there's a real fear that data will be purchased on the open market. Despite these risks, it's crucial not to let privacy concerns deter people from seeking necessary healthcare services. Overall, staying informed and taking proactive steps to protect privacy is essential in this rapidly changing digital landscape.
Law enforcement data purchases: Law enforcement can purchase sensitive information about individuals using public funds instead of legal process, potentially invading privacy and leading to unintended consequences
There are currently few protections against law enforcement purchasing data about the public, even sensitive information, using public funds instead of legal process. This was discussed by Albert Fox Cahn at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. A real-life example of the consequences of such tech surveillance was seen in the case of Jessica Burgess, a mom in Nebraska, whose teenage daughter's Facebook messages discussing plans for an abortion were obtained by police through warrants. The tech company, Meta (Facebook), complied with these warrants, which did not mention abortion. While most big tech companies generally comply with legal and valid warrants, many people mistakenly assume that direct messages on social media platforms will remain private. Legal experts advise that law enforcement can usually obtain messages if they can demonstrate probable cause. For more information, visit MarketPlaceTech.org. Jesus Alvarado produced this episode, and I'm Lily Jamali, signing off for MarketPlaceTech. This is APM.