During his State of the Union address, President Biden called for improvements to data privacy and transparency for all Americans- a similar message to his speech in 2022. However, progress has yet to be made. A fact sheet released by the White House before the event states an acknowledgment of the unjust practices in place and a call for action.
A sometimes overlooked or misunderstood subcategory within the greater privacy discussion is the collection and management of health data- which is now more critical than ever, given the status of reproductive health across the United States.
The World Health Organization defines women of reproductive age as those between the ages of 15 and 49. Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, 12 states have total bans on abortion as of February 2023 (see Table 1). Over 50 percent of southern states have total abortion bans. Furthermore, of the 12 states with total abortion bans, 75 percent of them are southern states.
Table 1: States with Total Abortion Bans
Recognizing that the line between our physical and digital realities has never been thinner, it is essential to take digital privacy seriously. Outdated policy continues to put already vulnerable populations- such as women of reproductive age in states where abortion is criminalized- at further risk.
This month, we review the legislation that aims to protect health data and the ways in which it continues to leave the most vulnerable at risk.
Stay tuned for a look at the following:
- Who are the women in states with abortion bans?
- Data Ownership- why digital privacy standards matter across gender, race, and age.
Take care,
