Case Study: FemTech
The FemTech case study focused on the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, trust, and bias in female-oriented technologies (FemTech)
Project Summary
The FemTech case study focused on the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, trust, and bias in female-oriented technologies (FemTech). FemTech encompasses a range of technologies, including mobile applications, websites, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, designed to address women’s health and wellness needs, such as fertility tracking, period management, and pregnancy monitoring.
This part of the AGENCY project aims to investigate and address potential vulnerabilities and ethical concerns arising from the collection, storage, and use of sensitive personal data by FemTech products. Our results reveal how many FemTech apps and IoT devices begin tracking user data immediately upon opening, often before obtaining explicit user consent. Users are concerned and regulations are lacking in several aspects.
The FemTech case study is a collaborative effort involving researchers from AGENCY and beyond, as well as industrial partners. By addressing the cybersecurity, privacy, trust, and bias challenges in FemTech, this case study promoted the development and use of FemTech in a responsible and ethical manner, ensuring that women (and other users) can benefit from their potential without compromising their security or privacy.
Knowledge Repository
In this section you can explore knowledge and insights gained from our study.
ViewMeet the Team
Abi Durrant
Co-Investigator
Professor of Interaction Design, School of Computing, Newcastle University
Ehsan Toreini
Co-Investigator
Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University
of Surrey
Adrian Bermudez Villalva
Research Associate
Research Associate, Royal Holloway University of London
Maryam Mehrnezhad
Co-Investigator
Reader in Information Security, Information Security Group (ISG), Royal Holloway University of London
Vasilis Vlachokyriakos
Co-Investigator
Reader (Associate Professor) of Human-Computer Interaction, School of Computing, Newcastle University
Viana Nijia Zhang
Research Associate
PhD in Computer Science, School of Computing, Newcastle University
