The privacy problems hidden in your period tracker
bbc.com
July 16, 2026
9 min read
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51/100
Summary
Some period tracking apps are sharing users' health data, raising privacy concerns. Stardust claims to protect user data but may have different definitions of privacy compared to users, according to a new report.
Key Takeaways
- The Mozilla Foundation's investigation revealed that some period tracking apps, like Stardust, share sensitive health data with third parties, including a data management company called RudderStack, which is not disclosed in their privacy policy.
- Experts express concern that data from period trackers could be used in criminal cases following the US Supreme Court's overturning of federal abortion protections in 2022.
- Euki is highlighted as a period tracker with strong privacy protections, while other apps have improved their privacy practices in response to previous criticisms.
- Spot On, developed by Planned Parenthood, does not share data directly but has privacy issues related to its website, which shares user information with an analytics company when certain features are accessed.
Coverage & discussions
Hacker News · bbc.com
Community discussions
Community Sentiment
Positives
- Euki stands out as a beacon of privacy in a sea of invasive apps, storing data locally and letting users stay completely anonymous — a game changer for personal data security.
- MacroFactor is praised for its commitment to user privacy and a straightforward business model, proving that not all apps need to monetize user data for profit.
Concerns
- The overwhelming majority of period tracker apps are just 'you're the product' types, with privacy and security issues that are frankly disappointing.
- The trend of problematic analytics in period apps highlights a growing frontier for security concerns, especially with third-party data collection.
