How to delete your period tracking app data

Kristen Radtke / The Verge

In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to end abortion protections, there were warnings to uninstall cycle tracking apps. People were concerned that the data in those apps could be used in court.

Fears about personal data are justified as abortion becomes more criminalized. People who seek abortions in countries where it is not allowed are concerned that their data could be used to prosecute them. Period tracking apps are probably not the biggest risk in a post-Roe landscape, according to experts. Search history and text messages should be more of a concern for people.

Period tracking apps have sensitive information even if they aren't the primary weapons against people who need abortions. The apps collect information on when people are in various stages of their menstrual cycle and can allow people to track their sexual activity Predicting windows where people are most likely to get pregnant is one of the things offered by some. Some insight into a person's reproductive health can be offered by the sheer amount of data. If they show someone stop menstruating for a few months and then start again, it might be a sign that they had a baby.

The apps aren't protected by medical privacy laws. The companies that make them have the ability to decide what to do with the data they collect. If they are required to give information by a warrant or subpoena, even those with a firm privacy policy will give it.

Period tracking app data hasn't been used to prosecute people suspected of breaking abortion laws Cynthia Conti-Cook is a technology fellow with the Ford Foundation's gender, racial, and ethnic justice team. It is not likely that it would be the main form of evidence used to prosecute someone for having an abortion.

Image: Flo

Period tracking can be used to keep an eye on reproductive health related issues. It isn't a huge danger for people who like having that information on hand because they aren't exposing themselves to a major risk.

Tracking reproductive health related information in light of the changing landscape around abortion is not unreasonable. If having the data sitting on a phone makes you uncomfortable, here's what you can do.

How to delete tracking data

You can easily remove a period tracking app from your phone. If you uninstall an app, you don't know if your health data has been erased along with it. If you decided to re-download the Flo app, the company could retain your data for three years.

Period tracking apps can be used to store data on your phone, but many of them store it in the cloud. Unless you remove your account first, your period data can be accessible to the company. When you first downloaded the app, make sure to remember if you created an account. The app may have some of your data on its server.

You have to remove your data from these apps if you want to. Deactivating your account doesn't mean the company has deleted all your data either Period tracking apps can take several weeks to be deleted. If you want to make sure that your request has been honored, email customer support.

Period tracking apps can be found in the App Store and the Play Store, each with their own privacy policies. If you want to start using some of the most popular period tracking apps, you need to know what their data retention policies are, as well as some general guidelines.

Image: Flo

Flo:

• In the Flo app, go to Menu > Home > Contact us and submit a deactivation request. Anonymous users will have to register their accounts first.
• You can also request that your account and data be deleted by emailing support@flo.health.
• Once your account is deactivated, Flo says it will delete your data. However, Flo’s Privacy Policy says it “may retain certain Personal Data and other information after your account has been terminated or deleted as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes and enforce our agreements.” The Verge asked Flo to clarify what data may be kept after termination but did not immediately receive a response.

Glow:

• In the Glow app, go to More (iOS) or the side bar (Android). Then head to Account Settings, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and select Delete Account. For iOS users, you can also find the Delete Account option under the Log Out button. Glow’s support page says deleting your account will also wipe your data from its system and that it cannot be restored.
• You can also delete your account and personal data by emailing privacy@glowing.com.
• The Verge reached out to Glow to see if there is a retention period after an account is deleted but did not immediately receive a response.

Image: Clue

Clue:

• In the Clue app, go to More > Support > Account Questions (iOS) / Account & Data (Android). Scroll down and tap “How Can I Delete My Account?” and select Delete my Clue account. You’ll be prompted to back up your data. After, enter your password and tap Delete account permanently.
• Follow this up by emailing trust@helloclue.com. Clue’s privacy policy says you can request the company completely delete your data, including any past data sent to third-party services. Keep in mind that Clue says it may take up to 30 days for your data to be deleted. The Verge asked Clue to clarify whether your data can be provided to legal entities within that time period but did not immediately receive a response.

Ovia:

• In the app, go to Settings > Reset or delete my account > Delete my account and data. Enter your username and password. You can also email support@oviahealth.com.
• If you log into your Ovia account via Facebook, you must follow the methods listed above. Removing your Ovia account from within the Facebook app will not delete your account or data.
• Ovia’s privacy policy lists several scenarios in which the company says it has the right to deny deletion requests, including complying with legal obligations. If you have consented to participate in research studies, Ovia says it can also delay deletion until said research study is completed. The Verge asked Ovia to specify how long its data retention period is but did not immediately receive a response.

Image: Apple

Cycle Tracking on Apple Health:

• According to Apple’s Health App & Privacy Policy, any health or fitness data recorded in the Health app on a device locked with a passcode, TouchID, or Face ID is “encrypted and inaccessible by default.” However, you can still easily delete your period data by going to Health > Sharing > Apps > Cycle Tracking > Delete All Data from “Cycle Tracking.”

The majority of your data will be erased once you uninstall the period tracking app. You should still do your homework. You need to remove the app before you do.

• Revoke any sharing permissions you may have granted to third-party apps, health sharing services, or social media. You can generally do this in an app’s settings menu in the section where you set up app integrations.
• Some period tracking apps that locally store data, like Cycles or Spot On by Planned Parenthood, give users the option to create accounts for a better user experience. Even if the app doesn’t have access to your health data, creating an account means the company likely has a record of your personal contact information. Reach out to customer support and request to delete your account. Keep in mind there may be a delay. Cycles, for instance, may take up to 60 days to fully delete your personal account information.
• Double-check the app’s privacy policy to ensure there are no extra steps you need to take. This is also where you’ll find an app’s data retention policy and how long it may take for your data to be fully deleted.
• If you want and the app allows, export your data for your personal records.