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Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

cam.ac.uk

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Re: Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

#61

Post by bmacho »

leereeves wrote: post #51
NoTranslationL wrote: post #23

If anyone is interested in a privacy focused tracking app that stores all your data locally, I make an app called Reflect [0] whose sole purpose is this, plus on-device analysis. We’re working on a menstrual tracking feature right now and it’s pretty far along. We’ve just released an anomaly detection feature as well. [0] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reflect-track-anything/id64638...

That sounds like a good idea with one obvious challenge: how can you prove that data will remain private forever?

Simple + open source + no access to network + no updates (idk about Android/iOS cross-app data sharing).

Re: Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

#62

Post by chii »

voidUpdate wrote: post #24

> arguing that apps must provide clear consent options rather than all-or-nothing data collection What's wrong with "nothing"? Other than the companies not being able to squeeze a few more dollars out of selling user data, of course

the 'nothing' doesn't mean no data sent - it means you don't get access to the app's features if you don't consent to the data collection.

Re: Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

#63

Post by [deleted] »

bArray wrote: post #54

Combine this with the Meta Pixel illegal localhost tracking that bypasses privacy measures [1] [2] and the privacy leaking could be off the scale. I think this goes for all things - medical data such as heart rate, blood sugar, steps, weight, VO2 max, etc, could all be seriously misused. Personally I try to use apps that are not cloud-based, or make my own, but this isn't an option for everybody. [1] https://www.zero…

[deleted]

Re: Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

#64

Post by cwmoore »

nemomarx wrote: post #33
calcifer wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Historically, "safety" referred to protection from physical harm. It has now expanded into psychological, emotional, economical realms. This had the (very much intended) effect of redefining "unsafe" from imminent and persistent threat to anything that makes me uncomfortable .

Not sure how that's super relevant here? "my data could be used to accuse me of a crime" is a threat of physical harm anyway, unless you define being arrested as safe. And I don't really think public opinion has shifted on that part. You could argue about emotional comfort or something, maybe.

Being arrested by a “public safety officer” is not safe at all.

Re: Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

#66

Post by testing22321 »

rtkwe wrote: post #46
NoTranslationL wrote: post #23

If anyone is interested in a privacy focused tracking app that stores all your data locally, I make an app called Reflect [0] whose sole purpose is this, plus on-device analysis. We’re working on a menstrual tracking feature right now and it’s pretty far along. We’ve just released an anomaly detection feature as well. [0] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reflect-track-anything/id64638...

[flagged]

It’s always worth pointing out there are many billions of people who live completely free of this fear of reprisals from the state/country they live in

Re: Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

#67

Post by testing22321 »

ubermonkey wrote: post #56

In the current climate, no one should use a menstrual tracking app of any kind, even those with on-device-only data. Asking normal people to figure out the risk profile of that data, and to evaluate the trustworthiness of a given app, is just too much. Use a paper calendar.

Even people in Canada? New Zealand?

Many billions of people live completely free of this concern.

Re: Menstrual tracking app data is gold mine for advertisers that risks women safety

#70

Post by 1970-01-01 »

ubermonkey wrote: post #56

In the current climate, no one should use a menstrual tracking app of any kind, even those with on-device-only data. Asking normal people to figure out the risk profile of that data, and to evaluate the trustworthiness of a given app, is just too much. Use a paper calendar.

The risk profile of paper seems to be equal to the risk profile of on-device-only? How do they differ?

Something you have v. something you have

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