For any Flo users concerned about the data privacy and security of the popular period tracker app, here’s what the company’s policy says and means.
Flo is a highly rated period-tracking app on both the App Store and Google Play, but in light of recent events, some might be wondering if their personal information will still be safe on the platform going forward. Known as an excellent health and well-being app for tracking fertility, menstrual cycle, and eventual pregnancy, users can input their daily symptoms, including their use of oral contraception, sexual activities, weight and sleep metrics, and range of moods. However, due to the crumbling of Roe v. Wade, there is widespread concern over whether people’s use of Flo, and period trackers in general, can have disastrous legal repercussions in the future.
In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and effectively nullified the decades-old constitutional right to abortion. Nearly half of the U.S. states are expected to overturn abortion rights, with more restrictions to probably follow. The use of period and fitness apps to track personal health data has suddenly become a questionable decision, and many are worried that any information they log can potentially be used against them legally, should they try to obtain abortion services in states where they are now against the law.
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Flo’s privacy policy page outlines the type of personal data the app may collect from users, such as a person’s name, email address, year of birth, password, and place of residence, including associated location information. The app also may collect any lifestyle data the user chooses to provide, like weight, body temperature, menstrual cycle dates, and pregnancy details for those who’ve selected the pregnancy mode of the app. While Flo’s privacy policy clearly states that it will not collect and use personal data without letting the user know and gaining their consent, there’s a certain clause worth noting that discusses what the app may do with user information in terms of sharing it in a legal capacity. Under a section labeled ‘Special circumstances‘, Flo states it may share some of a user’s personal data “in response to subpoenas, court orders or legal processes, to the extent permitted and as restricted by law” in order to “meet national security or law enforcement requirements.” This means that the app might not be able to fully protect a user’s personal data and will, in fact, share it when the company is compelled by a court to do so.
Still Want To Use The Flo App? Here Are Your Options
Health trackers like Flo often have vague privacy policies that enable them to share data so that they can better target their audiences with more timely features, third-party recommendations, and relevant ads. Users who are unsure of what to do about Flo’s data collection practices and are second-guessing their use of the app may want to explore the app’s newest feature slated for launch “in the next few weeks.” In a recent tweet, Flo announced an upcoming ‘Anonymous Mode‘ that will allow users to remove their personal identity from their accounts, including their personal email, name, and other identifiers. It will be offered as a free feature and will not affect most of Flo’s functionality, so users can proceed with using the app as normal. However, because anonymous mode will effectively put a cap on the app’s personalization features, those who enable it would not be able to recover any data in case the device the app is on is lost, changed, or stolen.
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Users who still want to use the Flo app to track certain aspects of their health can do so and skip the options that would enable outside bodies to observe specific details that could result in a decision to seek an abortion. For those who use Flo mainly as a fertility tracker, that may mean not logging periods or sexual activities. It may also mean not utilizing Flo’s ‘Pregnancy Mode‘ feature, which includes the option to log miscarriages. Although ignoring these services may take the point out of using Flo all together, long-time users of the app can decide to maintain their accounts on the platform and just track their weight, sleep, steps, and water intake. Users who’d like to test Flo‘s anonymous mode before deciding to call it quits will have to see in the coming weeks if it’s enough to assuage their growing concerns.
