PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS’ REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DATA

Daily Action
Written By Dick Thompson

Americans need robust privacy legislation to protect against anti-abortion zealots’ campaign to punish abortion providers and recipients.

QUICK READ:  With Roe’s reversal and the tsunami of anti-abortion laws going into effect in many states, Americans urgently need to be able to protect their personal reproductive health information from the prying eyes of the anti-abortion Inquisition. With only five states and no federal statute protecting our privacy rights, Congress must craft legislation precluding the collection of unnecessary data and limiting companies from disclosing this data to third parties. The My Body, My Data Act, co-sponsored by Senator Wyden, is a good first step.


CONTENTS:

BACKGROUND

America is in the throes of a modern-day Inquisition. Even before Dobbs, some authorities were using texts, web searches, and social media information to prosecute women for “killing” their fetuses. 

With the tsunami of anti-abortion legislation passed or revived in the past several months, many more pregnant people and their abortion providers find themselves similarly vulnerable. 

Unlike Europe, the U.S. has no omnibus privacy law. While information collected by health-care providers is generally protected by HIPAA, that amassed by health information apps isn’t.

Your phone, which records communications, search histories, body health data, and other information, can reveal abortion activity. Privacy experts fear misuse of advertising data apps and social media sites collect.  

Senate passage of legislation creating a federal abortion right best solves these problems. 

Until then, Congress can limit the Inquisition’s ability to access online reproductive and sexual health data by passing the My Body, My Data Act co-sponsored by Senator Wyden which: 

  • Allows companies to collect/retain/use only data their product or service strictly needs

  • Precludes data-sharing without the user’s express consent and requires deletion upon user’s request

  • Mandates publication of company’s privacy policies, whose violations enforced by Federal Trade Commission and private civil actions

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The My Body, My Data (S.4434), which Senator Wyden is co-sponsoring, is desperately needed to protect internet users from having their health-care information used against them by the MAGA Republican Inquisition. In addition to adding your name as a co-sponsor, please do everything you can to move this bill through the Senate, while simultaneously pushing Senate leadership for votes on the Women’s Health Protection Act (HR.8296) and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act(HR.8297) sent to the Senate on July 18.

SEN. WYDEN:

Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for co-sponsoring the My Body, My Data Act (S.4434), which is desperately needed to protect internet users from having their health-care information used against them by the MAGA Republican Inquisition. Please do everything you can to move this bill through the Senate, while simultaneously pushing Senate leadership for votes on the Women’s Health Protection Act (HR.8296) and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act(HR.8297) sent to the Senate on July 18.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Your constituents want abortion to remain legal in America. Instead of trying to turn America into a theocracy, vote to protect women’s control over their reproductive freedom.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for voting to protect women’s control over their reproductive freedom and for co-sponsoring the My Body, My Data Act (HR.8111). Please work for its swift passage so that internet users will be protected from having their health-care information used against them by the MAGA Republican Inquisition.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your constituents want abortion to remain legal in America. Instead of trying to turn America into a theocracy, vote to protect women’s control over their reproductive freedom.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for voting to protect women’s control over their reproductive freedom and for co-sponsoring the My Body, My Data Act (HR.8111). Please work for its swift passage so that internet users will be protected from having their health-care information used against them by the MAGA Republican Inquisition.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The My Body, My Data Act (HR.8111), which Reps. Blumenauer and Bonamici are co-sponsoring, is desperately needed to protect internet users from having their health-care information used against them by the MAGA Republican Inquisition. In addition to adding your name as a co-sponsor, please do everything you can to move this bill through the House.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The My Body, My Data Act (HR.8111), which Reps. Blumenauer and Bonamici are co-sponsoring, is desperately needed to protect internet users from having their health-care information used against them by the MAGA Republican Inquisition. In addition to adding your name as a co-sponsor, please do everything you can to move this bill through the House.

ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.

GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.” 

FURTHER READING

Dick Thompson
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