More and more women in this country are also enjoying cycle tracking apps. A British study now shows how such apps share sensitive data with Facebook.

They can be quite practical: cycle apps that track and evaluate your period. But how securely do such apps actually store this sensitive data? My body is basically nobody else’s business – right?

A British study shows how cycle apps share collected data with Facebook and how the social media company uses this data.

Do period trackers really share my data?

Smartphone apps that help track and evaluate the menstrual cycle are becoming increasingly popular among women. But according to a study by the British NGO Privacy International (PI) , presented in early September 2019, period tracking apps such as Maya and MIA Fem share details of the data they collect with Facebook.

This involves personal data such as the woman's contraceptive methods, the time of the period and what symptoms occur before or during it.

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According to the study, the data was shared with Facebook via the social media platform's Software Development Kit and used to offer targeted advertising to potential consumers. This should happen regardless of whether a user has a Facebook account or not or whether they are logged in to Facebook or not.

The PI study was first published on BuzzFeed and is also published by various media in German-speaking countries.

“There's a reason advertisers are so interested in your mood. Understanding when a person is in a vulnerable state of mind means you can attack them strategically.”

The Independent Facebook and Maya deny that data was shared.

A spokesperson for Plackal Tech, the India-based owners of Maya, emphasizes that the app does not use data for commercial purposes and does not sell data to Facebook or other third parties. However, have removed both the Facebook Core SDK and the Analytics SDK from Maya.

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Facebook also distances itself from the allegations and points out that Facebook's terms of use prohibit developers from sending sensitive health information. In addition, ad targeting based on people's interests should not use information in other applications or websites that is obtained from people's activities.

A statement from MIA Fem is still pending.

Conclusion:

data scandals keep occurring - especially in connection with Facebook.

Even though Facebook and Maya deny sending or receiving sensitive data, the fairly detailed study by Privacy International shows that tracking apps pose a certain risk when it comes to data protection and privacy.

Further sources: Girlfriend , futurezone
Article image: Shutterstock / Peter Snaterse

You might also be interested in: Your data traces on the internet


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