Google says it will delete users’ location history for abortion clinic visits

Google will routinely delete location historical past when customers go to delicate locations like abortion clinics, based on a blog posted last week.  

Within the publish, the tech large stated the situation historical past setting on Google accounts is off by default, and customers who flip it on can take away knowledge at any time. The brand new protections will delete entries from locations like counseling facilities, home violence shelters, fertility facilities, habit therapy services, weight reduction clinics and beauty surgical procedure clinics quickly after customers go to. The function will probably be added within the coming weeks.

Google additionally stated it plans to roll out updates to Fitbit that may enable customers who monitor their intervals to delete a number of menstruation logs without delay. Customers can presently take away logs one after the other.

“We’re dedicated to delivering sturdy privateness protections for individuals who use our merchandise, and we’ll proceed to search for new methods to strengthen and enhance these protections,” Jen Fitzpatrick, senior vp of core techniques and experiences at Google, wrote within the weblog publish.

“We help Congressional efforts to succeed in bipartisan settlement on nationwide privateness protections that transfer the burden of privateness off people and set up good knowledge practices throughout the board.” 

THE LARGER TREND

After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court docket final month, privacy experts have raised considerations personal data could be used as evidence {that a} person sought an abortion. 

Interval-tracking app Flo last week announced it might quickly launch an “nameless mode,” permitting folks to make use of the app with out private e mail, title and technical identifiers. Different apps released statements discussing their privacy and data-sharing policies. 

In the meantime, the Workplace for Civil Rights within the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies released guidance final week addressing how federal legislation and laws shield people’ protected well being data regarding abortion and different reproductive healthcare. It additionally clarified what medical data is protected on private units like smartphones, and supplied strategies for privateness safety when utilizing well being apps.

Some senators are calling on HHS to update HIPAA to make sure sufferers’ well being data cannot be shared with legislation enforcement businesses which might be concentrating on individuals who might have had an abortion. 

“When HIPAA was signed into legislation in 1996, Roe v. Wade had upheld the correct to an abortion for over twenty years,” Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., wrote to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “When the HIPAA Privateness Rule was issued in 2000, it might have been unimaginable that the Supreme Court docket would strip away this elementary proper greater than 20 years later.”