United Kingdom: Announced ICO inquiry into period and fertility tracking apps over data security concerns

On 7 September 2023, the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) announced an inquiry into period and fertility tracking apps in response to concerns over data security. A poll commissioned by the ICO revealed that women are more worried about how their data is used and its security than the cost or ease of use when choosing such apps. The research also found that a third of women use these apps and over half of users have noticed an increase in fertility-related ads. The ICO is encouraging users to share their experiences through a survey and is investigating how these apps handle personal information. The ICO will focus on identifying potential harm to users, such as complicated privacy policies, excessive data collection, and unwanted targeted advertising.