Dems Continue Calls for Platforms to Protect Abortion-Related Data

Apple and Google should ban apps from “using data mining practices that could facilitate the targeting of individuals seeking abortion services,” Democrats wrote the companies Friday. Democrats have been making similar calls since the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade (see 2205240061). Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., signed Friday’s letter with Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Should the court overturn the decision, “anti-abortion prosecutors and even vigilantes may be able to exploit online mining of data from apps on the Google Play Store [and App Store] to stop individuals from accessing abortion services or to target them retroactively,” the lawmakers wrote. Policies “must require available apps to prohibit and protect against data practices that threaten individuals seeking abortion services.”