Are Women Concerned About Data Security When it Comes to Period and Fertility Apps?

A new poll from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) shows that more than half of women have concerns over data security when deciding to use period and fertility apps. The poll also found that more than a third of women have used apps to track periods or fertility, and out of those users, over half noticed an increase in baby or fertility-related advertising since signing up. To address these issues, the ICO is undertaking a review of these apps to identify potential harms related to data privacy. The ICO is asking people to share their experiences with the apps in order to understand if there are any areas that need improvement, including understanding how complicated they are to navigate and whether users have received unexpected targeted advertising. The goal of the review is to ensure women can use these services with confidence.