It all started with the initiative of the General Prosecutor of California Rob Bonta, who enlisted the support of 10 other prosecutors and called on Apple to concern with the protection of confidential medical data related to reproductive issues. In a letter in the name of Tima Cook, the heads of law enforcement agencies expressed their concern, that in the policy of protecting the company’s data there is a gap that allows you to use the confidential medical data of users against them if they turn to reproductive centers for help, while being residents of one of the 14 states where abortion is prohibited.
The letter states that data stories, location and some medical information can be used to identify people who plan to have an abortion.
“California is a leader among all states when it comes to digital confidentiality and reproductive freedom. Therefore, we call for technological companies that call our state to their home, to set the right example,” Bont said. “In conditions when reproductive rights are infringed throughout the country, our struggle for their freedom has never been so important. We ask Apple to listen to our requests and introduce new rules for application developers requiring the removal of insignificant data, including the location and search history” .
General prosecutors ask Apple to confirm their loyalty to the principles of protecting the private life of consumers with three necessary actions:
Delete insignificant data, such as the location and search history.
Give the Polanders clear and visual notifications in cases where there is a possibility of disclosing reproductive data to third parties.
To demand from the developers of applications confirmation that they will disclose data on the state of health of the reproductive sphere only in response to the actual agenda, a search warrant or court order.
As the Bont’s press release, these measures should protect information about reproductive health from unlawful use by those who want to harm pregnant women with its help and confirm Apple’s promises to protect confidential data in the App Store.