Beaver State News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., on may 18 reintroduced the My Body, My Data Act, which would create a new national standard to protect reproductive and sexual health data.

“There should be strict limits on how tech companies collect, use and share personal, sensitive information—especially reproductive health information collected through period tracking apps or web searches,” Wyden said. “The My Body, My Data Act will put tough new privacy protections in place for people seeking reproductive health care. I am proud to work with Congresswoman Jacobs and Senator Hirono and urge Congress to pass this bill immediately. Online protections for reproductive health care can’t wait.”

Since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, half of states are expected to ban or severely restrict abortion – putting people who are getting, seeking, or facilitating reproductive care at risk that their digital footprints will be weaponized against them. 

“Along with restricting the reproductive rights of people across the country, the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision opened individuals up to the risk of surveillance and prosecution for providing or seeking reproductive care,” said Senator Hirono. “Everyone should be able to trust that their personal data is safe and secure. This legislation will help protect people’s privacy and ensure their personal health data can’t be used against them. I will continue to do everything in my power to protect the right of all individuals to make decisions about their bodies and their futures.”

“As Republican-led states and courts are in a frenzy to ban or severely restrict access to abortion care, including mifepristone, it’s never been more urgent to protect our reproductive and sexual health data,” said Representative Jacobs. “Like millions of young people, I use a period tracking app – and the information in these apps along with fertility tracking apps, search history, location data, and so much more can be collected, shared, and sold without our consent, and even used to investigate and prosecute legal cases. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the My Body, My Data Act to put power back in people’s hands and ensure that we control our own personal data. My legislation provides the highest level of protection for reproductive and sexual health data – and I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support and pass it.”

The My Body, My Data Act is endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), NARAL Pro-Choice America, Physicians for Reproductive Health (PRH), National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), National Abortion Federation, Catholics for Choice, National Council for Jewish Women, Feminist Majority, Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE), and Indivisible.

Original source can be found here.