USA – ‘Uterus surveillance’: The scramble to keep abortion data from prying eyes

Telemedicine groups are looking to bolster privacy protections ahead of Roe decision.

By BEN LEONARD
05/20/2022

Telemedicine abortion groups, fearful of digital surveillance from states curbing access in a potential post-Roe nation, are shoring up privacy defenses and urging people seeking abortions to take steps to protect their data.

If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, telehealth would be crucial to people seeking abortion care, particularly those who live in states that would ban the procedure. Many people are expected to drive across state lines for virtual visits from their cars or have abortion pills mailed to a state where they are allowed, experts said — moves that could create legal risks.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/20/uterus-surveillance-the-scramble-to-keep-abortion-data-from-prying-eyes-00033775

Abortion in the Surveillance State

The digital platforms people rely on to access or learn about abortion are also being wielded to spy on and punish them.

By Kylie Cheung
November 22, 2021

Shortly after Texas enacted Senate Bill 8, a near-total abortion ban that’s primarily enforced by citizens spying on and policing each other, Texas Right to Life launched what can really only be called a snitch hotline, calling on the nosiest of neighbors and worst of people to submit “tips” about people they suspected to be seeking or helping people seek abortions.

Things didn’t go as planned for the hotline, once the teens of TikTok and other Very Online abortion rights advocates caught wind of it. Good Samaritans across the internet joined forces to inundate the hotline with false tips, Shrek memes, furry porn, and other generally ludicrous submissions, rendering the thing useless for anyone but ride-or-die Shrek fans. The hotline — which likely would have been weaponized by abusive ex-partners or anti-abortion activists seeking to make an easy $10,000 by suing people who help others have abortions — has since been dropped by several hosting services.

Continued: https://jezebel.com/abortion-in-the-surveillance-state-1848076906

USA – Anti-Abortion Lawmakers Want the State to Know Everything About Your Abortion

Anti-Abortion Lawmakers Want the State to Know Everything About Your Abortion
Dozens of states require abortion providers to submit data that's not necessary for public health purposes. Experts say the requirements intimidate patients and providers, and could even be used to criminalize abortion.

by Garnet Henderson
Oct 10 2019

Brent Blue has been practicing medicine in Jackson, Wyoming, for 38 years. At his family medicine and urgent care practice, he also provides abortions. As of July 1, each time he performs an abortion he must submit a report to the state including information about the patient’s age, race, county of residence, and previous pregnancies, including the patient’s number of past abortions, miscarriages, births, and number of children living or dead. It also requires details of the termination, including the type of procedure used, complications, and gestational age of the fetus—including fetal weight and length.

Continued: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xwe59n/abortion-reporting-laws-lawmakers-want-the-state-to-know-everything-about-your-abortion

Part 1: how anti-abortion activism is exploiting data

Part 1: how anti-abortion activism is exploiting data

Monday, July 22, 2019

Intrusive data collection software and digital marketing systems are being developed and promulgated around the world by powerful and politically connected US-based anti-abortion organisations.

As anti-abortion organisations wake up to the utility of personal data to tailor and target messages online, data-intensive technologies and tools are being specifically developed for crisis pregnancy centres – which reportedly sometimes masquerade as licensed medical facilities and which have been criticised for providing those seeking medical help with false and misleading information.

Continued: https://www.privacyinternational.org/long-read/3096/part-1-how-anti-abortion-activism-exploiting-data

New Zealand – Treating abortion as a health issue

Treating abortion as a health issue

Vanessa Blackwood
23 November 2018

The Law Commission last month released its briefing to the Minister of Justice providing advice on abortion law reform.

In February, the Minister asked the Law Commission to provide advice on how best to ensure New Zealand’s abortion laws are consistent with treating abortion as a health issue, and what alternative approaches could be taken in New Zealand’s legal framework.

Continued: https://privacy.org.nz/blog/treating-abortion-as-a-health-issue/

23.11.2018