WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA) reintroduced the landmark My Body, My Data Act, legislation to create a new national standard to protect reproductive and sexual health data.
“As apps and devices that collect reproductive and sexual health information—like period and fertility trackers—become increasingly popular, everyone should be able to trust that their personal health data is safe and secure,” said Senator Hirono. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to protect people’s reproductive and sexual health data and prevent this information from being used against them. As Republicans continue their assault on our bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, I will continue doing everything in my power to ensure people have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and futures.”
Americans’ private reproductive and sexual health data are at increased risk of misuse and weaponization against them following the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the ensuing patchwork of state anti-abortion laws. Last year, it was reported that a data broker shared cell phone and geo-location data with an anti-abortion organization that then dispensed disinformation about reproductive health to people who visited 600 abortion clinics in 48 states.
“Anti-abortion Republicans are restricting abortion state-by-state, and they’re not going to stop until they get a national abortion ban,” said Senator Wyden. “The way MAGA prosecutors and politicians enforce their cruel assault on women’s rights is by going after their privacy and abusing their personal data to track down and punish women for their personal reproductive health choices. Congress has to draw a line. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Jacobs and Sen. Hirono on the My Body, My Data Act to set the toughest protections ever for reproductive health data.”
“Like millions of young people, I use a period tracking app – and the information in these apps, search history, location data, and so much more, has been collected, shared, and sold without our consent and even used to investigate and prosecute abortion cases,” said Representative Jacobs. “These threats are even scarier and more real in the second Trump Administration. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the My Body, My Data Act to ensure that bodily autonomy extends to our online lives and our private data. Our bicameral legislation provides the highest level of protection for our most sensitive data – reproductive and sexual health data – and I will keep fighting to pass it.”
The My Body, My Data Act would:
In addition to Senators Hirono and Wyden, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
The legislation is supported by Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Electronic Frontier Foundation, National Partnership for Women & Families, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Reproductive Freedom for All, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Center, National Abortion Federation, Catholics for Choice, National Council for Jewish Women, Power to Decide, United for Reproductive & Gender Equity, Indivisible, Guttmacher Institute, National Network of Abortion Funds, All* Above All, and Americans from Contraception.
The full text of the bill is available here.
A long-time champion for abortion access, Senator Hirono is committed to protecting the fundamental right to abortion care for all. Last Congress, following reports showing that social media companies were collecting and data brokers were selling location data that could be used to identify individuals seeking reproductive health care services, Senator Hirono introduced the UPHOLD Privacy Act, legislation to expand protections for Americans’ personal health data privacy. Senator Hirono also introduced the Secure Access for Essential Reproductive (SAFER) Health Act, legislation that would expand patient privacy protections by strengthening the HIPAA to prohibit medical providers from disclosing personal health information related to abortion or pregnancy loss without patient consent. The Senator also led 30 of her colleagues in pushing to prevent local and state law enforcement from using federal assistance to surveil or investigate individuals receiving or providing abortion care.
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