Your FemTech Shield: Top tips to keep women safe using Female Technology apps

As one of the AGENCY’s outputs we advise end users to research their FemTech products, such as fertility apps, period trackers or smart breast pumps, to keep themselves safe.

FemTech, short for ‘Female Technology’, is a broad term encompassing diagnostics, apps, and IoT (Internet of Things) devices that aim to improve women’s health and wellness.

Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad, a Reader in Information Security, and Director of the Usable Security and Privacy (USP) Lab at Royal Holloway, University of London, has researched many FemTech applications for several years.

Dr Mehrnezhad and her team, together with colleagues at the AGENCY project, have studied these products for their privacy, security, and safety risks and harms. For example, inaccuracy in a fertility/period tracker (i.e., when developed with no feedback from experts) or their malfunction (due to attacks) can either end in unwanted pregnancy, when the app claims to be able to tell women when they are at least likely to fall pregnant, and/or missing the fertile window, leading to severe emotional cost.

FemTech can also reinforce gender stereotypes and biases through limited inclusivity, reinforcement of norms, and data biases. One such application is a menopause management app, which can reinforce gender stereotypes and biases by excluding diverse experiences (e.g., women with disabilities, early menopause, or varying cultural backgrounds), focusing narrowly on physical symptoms and potentially medicalising it.

Another worrying aspect is that the data collected by many apps, if not protected by proper security and privacy measures, can be seen by others. We have identified several threats of third parties being able to access women’s information via the app, including ex-partners and family, insurance firms, cyber-criminals, advertising companies, political and religious organisations, governments and medical and research companies.

The security, privacy, and safety issues of FemTech put women and girls at risk as these products deal with health and medical aspects of our lives such as family planning. Everyone using these apps need to be armed with information on what these apps can do, what they should expect from them and how to choose the best ones on the market.

Top tips:

Dos:

1. Do research before using any FemTech app or device such as a period tracker: Check reviews, look for reputable sources, and read the privacy policy carefully. Check if these products are developed with input from experts.
2. Do prioritize technologies with clear and transparent privacy policies: Look for transparent and robust security and privacy plans and measures to protect your reproductive health information such as fertility data.
3. Do be mindful of the information you share about yourself and others (baby, partner, family): Avoid sharing overly personal details. Your data could be used against you in legal proceedings, particularly in an area with limited reproductive rights.
4. Do regularly review and adjust your privacy settings: Understand what data is being collected and control who has access to it. Limit access to health and fitness data on your device.
5. Do practice your data rights within the GDPR e.g., right to be forgotten: When uninstalling an app, consider contacting the company to remove your data (account, personal, health/medical, and sexual information) from all servers.

Don’ts:

1. Don’t ignore red flags related to data security or privacy breaches: If you receive notifications of suspicious activity or data breaches, take immediate action to protect your account and report to the app developer and relevant authorities.
2. Don’t share your FemTech account credentials with anyone, not even friends or family: Protect your privacy and maintain control over your information by keeping your account username and password strictly confidential.
3. Don’t rely solely on FemTech apps for critical health decisions: Consult with healthcare professionals for accurate diagnoses and treatment plans, e.g., in case of infertility or menopause experiences.
4. Don’t share intimate content within FemTech platforms without understanding the security measures: These images and videos could be leaked or misused, causing significant emotional distress.
5. Don’t connect your FemTech app to other apps or devices without reviewing data sharing agreements: This could expose your sensitive health data to a wider range of potential risks e.g., third party tracking and profiling.