New Rules Allow Police Access to Period Apps: 3 Ways to Safeguard Your Privacy

Experts say they will 'strongly contest' the new police guidelines proposing searches of women’s residences. abortion drugs and mobiles were checked for menstruation-related items cycle tracking apps after unexpected pregnancy loss.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has stated that those investigating the reasons behind stillbirths and miscarriages should examine digital devices to 'determine a woman’s awareness and intentions concerning her pregnancy.'

This guidance was released fewer than four weeks ago. Nicole Packer was acquitted of unlawfully obtaining abortion pills during the lockdown. She thought she was less than 10 weeks Pregnant and had received the prescription from a certified provider, however, it turned out she was approximately 22 weeks Pregnant, which exceeds the gestational limit for having an unsupervised medicinal termination.

Harriet Wistrich, who established the Centre for Women’s Justice, told The Times That failing to seek consultation on such a contentious piece of police guidance is worrying.

The trauma associated with late terminations is frequently exacerbated when these cases are subjected to invasive inquiries into the women involved. This practice represents a gross misuse of the scant resources at the disposal of law enforcement organizations, which ought instead to concentrate their efforts on safeguarding the public against genuine criminal activities.

Dr Ranee Thakar, who serves as the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), describes the recent developments as "disturbing": "Individuals facing such situations are entitled to considerate treatment and must have their dignity and privacy upheld; they should not find themselves subjected to invasions of their personal spaces like searches of their residences, telephones, computers, or even health applications, nor experience arrest and questioning."

A NPCC representative stated that an inquiry is launched solely when there is reliable evidence indicating potential criminal behavior, which typically arises due to worries expressed by healthcare providers. They further noted: "Routine police investigations into unanticipated pregnancy losses are not conducted."

We acknowledge the profound trauma associated with the loss of a child, which encompasses numerous complexities. Any inquiry into such matters and those involved will be handled with the highest degree of sensitivity and empathy.

Nevertheless, an increasing number of women have faced investigation and prosecution under Victorian-era abortion laws lately: six women have gone to court over this issue in the past two years. only three reported convictions For illegal abortions carried out after the introduction of the current law in 1861, over 30 organisations demanded the decriminalisation of abortion in the UK during January. They argued that the present legislation leads to ‘trauma and cruelty’.

For individuals utilising applications, Rhiannon White, who serves as the CEO, Clue The world-leading period-tracking application states: "It is important for us to clarify that under no circumstances have we ever shared personal health information with authorities, nor do we intend to in the future. We recognize that this may have instilled doubt and worry among many regarding their privacy. Our unwavering dedication to protecting user confidentiality dates back more than ten years from when we first began."

She advises that to safeguard yourself, Clue members have the option to ask for their personal data to be removed at any moment.

3 methods to maintain the confidentiality of your menstrual cycle information

1/ Make sure your device features a robust and private PIN, along with either Face ID or fingerprint recognition for secure access.

2/ Monitor and implement all security recommendations provided by the device manufacturer. Ensure these protections are current, refrain from lending your device to others, and configure any available anti-theft settings.

3/ It’s important to mention that numerous devices have features which erase all data after multiple failed unlock attempts, or they can identify whether the device has been swiftly taken.