health technology

Academics from the University of Cambridge have raised concerns about the collection and commercialization of personal information through menstrual tracking applications, which have over 250 million downloads globally. These apps collect extensive data, including exercise, diet, medication, sexual preferences, hormone levels, and contraception use, making menstrual data valuable for consumer profiling. The report highlights that information on pregnancy status is particularly sought after in digital advertising, leading to risks of exploitation for targeted ads. If this data is misused, it could result in health insurance discrimination, employment risks, or domestic abuse. The researchers advocate for enhanced governance in the femtech industry, emphasizing the need for improved data security and meaningful user consent. They suggest that public health organizations develop alternatives to commercial tracking apps to prioritize user privacy and safety.