Digital surveillance poses a threat to reproductive rights post-Roe v. Wade. Guests discuss data privacy, tracking impact on abortion rights, privacy protection measures by tech, and efforts to ensure reproductive freedom. Spotlight on Planned Parenthood's privacy-focused app, Safe self-directed abortions mission by Plan C, and navigating reproductive data privacy post-REMS. Tech companies urged to prioritize data handling choices for patient autonomy.
56:47
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Digital surveillance threatens reproductive rights after Roe v. Wade, requiring privacy protection measures.
HIPAA plays a crucial role in safeguarding medical records and data security in healthcare.
Deep dives
Concerns About Privacy and Personal Data Protection
The episode discusses the significant efforts individuals must undertake to protect their personal data and privacy online. The story of Janet Vertezi illustrates the lengths she went to keep her pregnancies off the internet, using methods like prepaid credit cards and private web browsers to avoid online tracking. The narrative highlights the complexities individuals face in safeguarding their data, especially in a data economy where pregnant women's information is highly valuable for targeted advertising.
Reproductive Healthcare Data Privacy Challenges
The episode delves into the challenges pregnant individuals face due to the use of their data in the healthcare system. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the increased surveillance of reproductive health data, individuals need to navigate complex privacy concerns. The data economy's impact on reproductive care, exemplified by stories like Target knowing a customer was pregnant before her father did, underscores the risks and ethical dilemmas in utilizing personal health data.
HIPAA Regulations and Data Privacy in Healthcare
The discussion shifts to the role of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in safeguarding medical records and protected health information. The episode explores the historical evolution of HIPAA, emphasizing its provisions for ensuring patient privacy and data security. The need for enhanced privacy measures, especially in electronic health records and data breaches, is underscored as technology advances in healthcare.
Legislation and Advocacy for Reproductive Data Privacy
The episode highlights legislative efforts like the Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act, aimed at safeguarding individuals' reproductive and sexual health information. The proposed bill intends to prevent the misuse of personal data related to reproductive healthcare, emphasizing the importance of protecting privacy rights. Amidst increasing concerns about data surveillance in reproductive matters, advocacy for stronger data privacy laws and protections emerges as a critical focus.
Digital surveillance is becoming increasingly threatening to the reproductive rights of women and pregnant people in America after the fall of Roe v. Wade. Behavioral data collected from apps can be used to catalog — and criminalize — our health care choices. In this “wild west” surveillance economy, who is responsible for safeguarding our privacy? Could more and more of our data be weaponized against us in this same way? How can technology be harnessed to help protect privacy, rather than further jeopardize it?
Host Raffi Krikorian talks to people working to protect reproductive freedom in an ever-changing landscape. Guests include Sue Dunlap, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles; Melanie Fontes Rainer, Director of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights; Kevin Williams, VP of digital products at Planned Parenthood; Amy Merrill, digital director and co-founder of Plan C; and Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA).