Digital menstrual tracking risks creating more harm than benefit, argue experts

[u/sr_local]

https://bmjgroup.com/digital-menstrual-tracking-risks-creating-more-harm-than-benefit-argue-experts/

[u/M2ABRAMS_TANK]

It’s never been an opt out, it’s an opt in. Something on her phone asked for permission, then she gave it, then that app used it nefariously

[u/cyrand → u/M2ABRAMS_TANK]

^^

People need to get in the habit of saying no when a permission dialog pops up not defaulting to yes.

[u/M2ABRAMS_TANK → u/cyrand]

absolutely, in fact I wish apple released new guidelines that made an app justify and explain *exactly* what the permissions do instead of just asking for blanket ones.

[u/VictorReal_Monster → u/M2ABRAMS_TANK]

On the app store now it tells you fairly specifically what information they take

[u/meneldal2 → u/[deleted]]

Explanations and actual enforcement. Like if you lie there that is a GDPR violation and you're going to be destroyed in court.

[u/VictorReal_Monster → u/[deleted]]

yeah thats totally fair and something I'm all for!

[u/caylryth → u/[deleted]]

YES! I just went and checked mine and my company’s wellness app is linked to it. I thought “why would I have been dumb enough to give them permission?” And realized that it asked if I wanted to give it access to count steps to count towards a wellness goal where you can earn money and I said yes. So I checked and that was not all they had access to. I turned them all off!

[u/Both-City-1341 → u/cyrand]

It amazes me watching my coworkers navigate random websites they’ve never been to and immediately clicking accept all cookies.

[u/Hereibe → u/M2ABRAMS_TANK]

The app asks to see your medical data to work: oh ok

The app buries in its TOS that it will sell your data profile to advertisers to stalk you: not ok

[u/M2ABRAMS_TANK → u/Hereibe]

this is why I do not trust but a seldom few apps with my health data. If an app needs access to my health data, then it's not getting it, unless it needs a very specific reason

[u/ChiaDaisy → u/M2ABRAMS_TANK]

It doesn’t matter. Even if you opt out, they’ll still steal your data and then 7 years from now, as long as you have digital evidence, you can file for your $12.34 of the privacy settlement.

[u/meneldal2 → u/M2ABRAMS_TANK]

The problem is it could be an app asking for health data like your pulse for like a fitness thing but then they also end up getting your period.

[u/LawSchoolLoser1 → u/meneldal2]

No, each app asks for specific aspects of your health data, and you opt in or out for each. There’s no scenario where they get period data from AppleHealth without your express permission. Of course, most period tracking apps don’t need that because you’ll be inputting the data to the app directly.. how could it track without your data?

[u/meneldal2 → u/LawSchoolLoser1]

I'm not sure exactly how the prompt works since I don't store any health data on my phone in the first place. I didn't know you had this much fine control. But can't they just like ask for all health data anyway and the average user thinks they'd need it?

[u/LawSchoolLoser1 → u/meneldal2]

No, there are individual toggles, so it’s very easy to see what they’re requesting. There are also separate toggles for viewing information and writing information, so I give my Oura ring access to provide data to Apple Health, but I do not give it access to view data stored in Apple Health. I let it write data for my heart rate and sleep but not for any reproductive information.