Privacy · period trackers, mental health, fitness
AI in health apps
30-second gist~30s read
Period trackers, mental-health apps, sleep trackers, fitness apps are increasingly LLM-powered. The features can be genuinely useful: better mood detection, smarter cycle prediction, tailored advice.
The data behind them is intimate. The privacy policies vary wildly. The regulatory environment is still catching up. A few minutes of reading before you commit can save you years of regret.
If you want more
Three rules for picking one
- Find the privacy policy first. If you can't find one, or it's vague about "sharing with partners", walk away.
- Look for non-US data residency if you care about post-Roe legal exposure (period trackers especially). Apps with EU data residency or local-only storage are a stronger position.
- Prefer paid apps over free when the data is sensitive. Free apps usually monetise by sharing data; paid apps don't have to.
What to know about period trackers specifically
Since the 2022 US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, US prosecutors have sought reproductive-health digital evidence — including chat messages about abortion medication and location data — in several documented cases (most notably Nebraska v. Burgess, 2023, where Facebook Messenger records were used). No published case has yet involved a subpoena of a period-tracker app specifically — but the legal pathway is open, and privacy advocates have flagged trackers as a clear risk surface. Outside the US, the risk is lower but not zero. If you live in or visit the US, prefer apps that store data only on the device, or use a paper diary.