Warning: This article contains discussion of pregnancy loss and abortion which some readers may find distressing
It has been shockingly announced by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) that officers investigating the causes of stillbirths, miscarriages and unexpected pregnancy losses will now be permitted access to check menstrual cycle tracking apps.
With an alleged aim of being able to 'establish a woman’s knowledge and intention in relation to the pregnancy', the new protocol would mean that women's houses could also be searched for abortion drugs in accordance.
In England and Wales, abortion remains a criminal offence unless carried out under specific legal circumstances - primarily up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, provided two doctors agree that continuing the pregnancy would pose a greater risk to the woman's health than termination.
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According to the NPCC, however, an investigation into a woman's mobile phone, or a search of her property, is 'only initiated where there is credible information to suggest criminal activity'.
"Police do not routinely investigate unexpected pregnancy loss," a representative of the group previously explained.
"We recognise how traumatic the experience of losing a child is, with many complexities involved, and any investigation of this nature and individuals will always be treated with the utmost sensitivity and compassion."
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Since the news was first announced, a fresh warning has been issued over safety concerns associated with using period tracking apps which, in case you're unfamiliar with them, collect information on everything from exercise, diet and medication to sexual preferences, hormone levels and contraception use.
A report from the University of Cambridge's Minderoo Centre has said that such apps were a 'gold mine' for consumer profiling and collecting information.
The researchers warned that, if it were to land in the wrong hands, the data could result in health insurance 'discrimination' and risks to job prospects.
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Professor Gina Neff, executive director at the Minderoo Centre, said: "Women deserve better than to have their menstrual tracking data treated as consumer data, but there is a different possible future."
Additionally, academics at the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, an independent team of researchers at the university, have warned that this data could give insights into people's health and their reproductive choices, with the report noting that many women used the apps when they were trying to get pregnant.
The report went on to outline that data on who is pregnant, and who wants to be, is some of the 'most sought-after information in digital advertising' due to leading to a notable shift in shopping patterns.
"Cycle tracking apps (CTA) are a lucrative business because they provide the companies behind the apps with access to extremely valuable and fine-grained user data," they said.
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"CTA data is not only commercially valuable and shared with an inextricable net of third parties (thereby making intimate user information exploitable for targeted advertising), but it also poses severe security risks for users."
Dr Stefanie Felsberger, lead author of the report, added: "Menstrual cycle tracking apps are presented as empowering women and addressing the gender health gap.
"Yet the business model behind their services rests on commercial use, selling user data and insights to third parties for profit.
"There are real and frightening privacy and safety risks to women as a result of the commodification of the data collected by cycle tracking app companies."
Topics: Advice, Health, Life, Pregnancy, Science, Technology, UK News, Women's Health, Police
Rhiannon Ingle