Digital Privacy When Seeking Reproductive Healthcare
You deserve access to care—without your phone turning into a surveillance tool.
Reproductive healthcare is already complicated. Add in shifting laws and digital surveillance, and it’s no wonder people are worried about privacy when searching for or accessing abortion care. The truth is, we don’t yet know how tech companies will respond to law enforcement demands for data—but we do know there are steps you can take to protect yourself, your choices, and your digital footprint.
Here’s how to do it.
Keep Healthcare Searches Separate from Daily Life
Compartmentalize everything.
Use a separate browser—like Brave, Firefox, or DuckDuckGo on mobile—for anything related to reproductive care. Turn off browsing history, cookies, and autofill. Check your browser’s privacy settings and crank them up.
Use a second phone number and email.
Try Google Voice (free), Hushed, or Burner. For email, consider secure providers like Tutanota or ProtonMail.
Lock Down Your Mobile Privacy
Consider a burner phone if you’re especially concerned—but if that’s not realistic, adjust the settings on your current phone:
Review privacy permissions: especially location services. Choose “Only While Using” for apps like Maps—and close the app when done.
Turn off ad tracking: iOS and Android both allow this.
Disable “Find My” features before traveling to or from sensitive locations.
Switch off biometric unlocking like Face ID or fingerprint access—use a strong passcode instead.
Use encrypted messaging apps like Signal for texts and calls.
If you use a period tracking app, switch to one that prioritizes privacy—Euki is a great example.
Delete the Right Way
Deleting isn’t enough—do it right.
Photos and data linger in “Recently Deleted” folders. On phones, clear both your main gallery and trash folders. On computers, use secure deletion tools—but above all, enable full disk encryption. It’s likely already on—but double-check.
When in Doubt: Power Down
If you're attending a rally, visiting a clinic, or just want total peace of mind, the most secure option is to leave your devices at home—or power them down completely. No signal, no tracking, no worries.
Bottom line?
You don’t need to be a tech expert. You just need to stay aware, take a few smart steps, and remember: this is about protecting you.
Information from this guide was based on recommendations from Electronic Frontier Foundation which can be found here.
For additional information on this subject, check out the following articles:
Digital Defense Fund: Keep Your Abortion Private & Secure
Center for American Progress: Stopping the Abuse of Tech in Surveilling and Criminalizing Abortion
Reproductive Equity Now: Five Tips to Keep Your Digital Security Safe While Seeking Abortion Care
