For millions of people, period tracking apps have become part of everyday life.
They help people understand their menstrual cycles, manage symptoms, plan pregnancies and gain valuable insights into their reproductive health. But to provide those features, period tracker apps often collect some of the most personal information anyone will ever enter into a smartphone.
Many people never stop to think about what happens to that information once they’ve entered it.
But recent legal action involving the Flo period tracking app has prompted many users to ask important questions about how their health data is collected, used and shared.
The Flo data privacy case
In the US, Flo Health, Google and Flurry have agreed to a proposed $59.5 million settlement to resolve claims alleging that deeply personal health information was shared with third parties without users’ knowledge or informed consent.
The companies deny the allegations and have not admitted liability.
As lawyers explore a potential UK claim, many people are also asking important questions about how period tracking apps collect, use and protect sensitive health information.
Whether or not you ever used Flo, the case has prompted an important conversation about digital privacy.
Why this matters
Unlike your shopping history or streaming habits, period tracking apps can reveal some of the most significant moments in your life.
For some people, that’s a positive pregnancy test or the excitement of trying for a baby.
For others, it may be fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, perimenopause or ongoing health concerns.
Many people would only ever share that information with those closest to them or a healthcare professional.
That’s why questions about how this data is collected, stored and shared matter.
Our new guide explains everything you need to know
If you’ve ever wondered:
- What information period tracking apps collect
- Why health information receives additional legal protection
- What happens after you enter your information
- Why Flo has attracted so much attention
- What practical steps you can take to protect your privacy
Our latest guide brings everything together in one place.
Whether you’re a current Flo user, used the app in the past, or simply want to better understand how period tracking apps handle sensitive health information, the guide explains the key issues in plain English.
Read our new guide: Period and fertility tracker privacy
If you used the Flo app between 30 June 2016 and 23 February 2019, you can also get updates as the legal position in the UK develops.
Join the Claim connects consumers with SRA-regulated lawyers. Visit the claim page to check your eligibility if a claim is open with one of our trusted legal partners. If a group action has not yet been launched, you can register your interest and we’ll keep you informed if a partner firm decides to take a claim forward.
