Sixteen Senators have sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking the agency to protect abortion clinic patients’ data from being sold after revelations that at least two companies had been doing so.
The letterFirst reportedBy Refinery29The lawmakers asked Lina Khan, FTC Chair, to explain what she is doing to stop data firms from putting abortion seekers at risk by using their location data.
“In light of reports that the Supreme Court is Set to overrule Roe vs. Wade, we are concerned about the privacy of women making decisions that should be between them, their families, and their doctors as they have for nearly five decades,” the lawmakers wrote, using the term “women” instead of more accurate language that includes trans men and nonbinary people. “Banning and criminalizing abortion in parts of our country could create added risks to those seeking family planning services in states where abortions remain legal.”
Recent reporting It has been found that two data firms, SafeGraph and Placer.ai, are sellling abortion clinic patients’ location data, including where patients live, how long they stayed at the clinic and where they may have gone before and after the visit.
Motherboard found thatThey were able to access such data using simple searches on the companies’ websites, meaning that the data is easily accessible by anti-abortion hate groups, who have usedThese data were used to target abortion seekers before. The publication was able to buy data from SafeGraph showing locations of people who had visited over 600 Planned Parenthood clinics for only $160 — mere penniesAnti-abortion groups with millionsThousands of dollars in fundingSome of it comes from conservative donors like the Koch family.
With laws like Texas’s abortion ban, which essentially authorizes citizens to become Bounty huntersWith 26 statesIf necessary, will ban abortion RoeIf the data is rescinded, the data could be used as a weapon to harass providers and abortion seekers, or anyone who visits a clinic like Planned Parenthood which provides abortions alongside other reproductive health services.
Anti-abortion vigilantes are waged attacksFor years, abortion clinics have been a fixture in the community. Now, they are ready to take on the world. a riseIn violence and harassmentIf the RoeAn official overturn is issued.
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D–Minnesota), and Tammy Baldwin (D–Wisconsin). ledThe letter effort included signatures from prominent progressives such Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), as well as Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont).
“As reproductive rights are under attack across the country, we must do everything possible to protect the safety and privacy of women accessing the healthcare they need,” Klobuchar told Refinery29in a statement. “Personal decisions such as those about contraceptives or abortion should remain between a woman and her doctor, not some data company that is willing to share location tracking information to the highest bidder.”
The lawmakers asked the FTC if it is making moves to allow people to remove their data if it is being sold online and if the agency is planning on taking more general moves to “mitigate harms posed by mobile phone apps that are developed to collect and sell location data.”
Hate groups use data to target marginalized people, even though it is not specifically related to abortions. Motherboard reported last yearThe Catholic Substack newsletter is run by the same people who created it. The PillarWe used location data linked to the LGBTQ dating app Grindr to track and identify a priest using its services. led to his resignation.
The FTC has made an announcement measuresIt will be taking to protect data especially that of childrenWhile the data can be purchased online, it has yet to address abortion-related data.
