How period trackers share your private details
Mozilla research reveals that several popular period tracking apps share sensitive user health data with third-party companies like Google and Meta. While some apps have improved their privacy standards, others continue to handle reproductive health data in ways that could pose risks in legal contexts.
Why it matters
As reproductive rights face legal challenges, the privacy of health-tracking data has become a critical concern for user safety and digital rights.
Mozilla uncovered numerous privacy problems across various apps/BBC
Some apps are sharing users' health data. New research uncovers which apps lock down your privacy, and which don't.
Stardust is a period tracking app that combines users' menstrual cycles with astrology and horoscopes. It also makes bold privacy promises.
"Your data is private," Stardust says on its website. "Period."
The problem, according to a new report shared exclusively with the BBC, is you and Stardust may have different definitions of "private".
The Mozilla Foundation, creator of the Firefox web browser, investigated the privacy practices of six popular period trackers: Flo, Clue, Stardust, Spot On, Period Calendar and Euki.
Some apps have strong protections. Others handle data in ways you might find disturbing, like sharing information with Google, Meta and TikTok, alongside other companies you've likely never heard of.
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