Google says it will delete users’ location history data for visits to medical centers, abortion clinics –

Google announced on Friday that it plans to delete location history data “soon after users visit medical facilities, including abortion clinics.

The news, which the tech company announced in a blog post that also clarifies how it handles user data in apps, follows a June 24 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down Roe v. Wade.

“Some of the places people visit, including medical facilities like counseling centers, domestic violence shelters, abortion clinics, fertility centers, drug addiction treatment facilities, weight loss clinics, cosmetic surgery clinics and much more more, can be particularly personal,” Jen Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President President. Core Systems by Google, he wrote in the post. “We are announcing today that if our systems identify that someone has visited any of these locations, we will delete those location history records as soon as they are visited.”

The announcement also confirmed that the change will take effect in the coming weeks and noted that users who have previously turned on location history have the option to automatically delete some or all of their data. The post also addresses concerns about the collection of health, fertility and menstruation data by tech companies.

“For Google Fit and Fitbit, we provide users with settings and tools to easily access and control their personal data, including changing and deleting personal information at any time,” said the Alphabet Inc subsidiary. in a post.

Experts and advocates in reproductive health, abortion and privacy have pointed out that in the week after Roe’s ouster, data from some reproductive health tracking apps could be used to track, identify and help women in need. Dr. Gina Neff, director of the Minderoo Center for Technology and Democracy at the University of Cambridge, tweeted, “Remove these fertility apps now,” and in an interview The New York Times newspaperHe said the apps contain “powerful information about reproductive choices that are now at risk.”

Referring specifically to period tracking, the post notes that Fitbit users “who have chosen to track their periods in the app” can delete their menstrual records one by one. The announcement also confirmed that Google plans to release updates that allow users to “delete multiple records at once”.

“Google Play has strict protocols to protect user privacy, including a policy that prohibits developers from selling sensitive and personal user data and requires them to process that data securely and only for purposes directly related to the operation of the app. Fitzpatrick said. he said in a blog post. .

Friday’s announcement did not directly confirm whether Google would refuse to comply with requests from US law enforcement agencies, courts or prosecutors for information about users’ health. Some menstrual tracking apps, such as Europe-based Clue, have already issued statements confirming they cannot do so because “a court or other US body cannot replace” European privacy law and “you cannot simply ” request US data are. not based in the US”)

It offers users the aforementioned “extra steps” to protect user privacy in relation to health issues, noting that the company “has long supported a comprehensive US national privacy law that provides protection for everyone.”

“We understand that people trust Google to keep their personal data safe. We have been committed to this cause for a long time,” the post reads.

the hollywood reporter Google was contacted for comment.