Abortion Stalkers
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Abortion Stalkers
This is a story we have experienced here in Washington, now it is occurring all over the country and the results can be terrifying.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., revealed this week that an anti-abortion political group used mobile phone location data to send targeted misinformation to people who visited any of 600 reproductive health clinics in 48 states. In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission, Wyden urged the government to act quickly to protect the privacy of patients, and to hold the data broker accountable for misleading statements about its actions.
As a result of the Dobbs decision, which reversed Roe v. Wade and allowed states to criminalize abortion, privacy of location data has become increasingly important. Wyden began investigating a data broker named Near Intelligence in 2023, after the Wall Street Journal reported that an anti-abortion organization named The Veritas Society used cell phone location data shared with online advertising companies to target misinformation about reproductive health to people who visited Planned Parenthood locations in Wisconsin.
Privacy concerns have grown since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, with reproductive rights advocates warning that sensitive data collected and sold by technology companies could be used to aid prosecutions related to abortions.
“If a data broker could track Americans’ cell phones to help extremists target misinformation to people at hundreds of Planned Parenthood locations across the United States, a right-wing prosecutor could use that same information to put women in jail,” Wyden said. “Federal watchdogs should hold the data broker accountable for abusing Americans’ private information. And Congress needs to step up as soon as possible to ensure extremist politicians can’t buy this kind of sensitive data without a warrant.”
In order to protect patients against future abuse of their data, Wyden asked the FTC to ensure that all location and device data held by Near about Americans is destroyed, rather than sold off to another company or data broker during the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. He also asked the SEC to investigate whether Near violated securities laws by making misleading statements about its interactions with Congress and about whether its data was obtained with users’ consent (it was not).
Read the full letter here.
Companies are collecting our private data and it can be used for legal prosecutions in states where abortion is illegal. THIS HAS TO STOP. Reverse Roe v Wade.
ACTION
We need to remind the Congress and the Senate that there are companies that are selling personal location information that can be used to prosecute abortions. Recall they tool a mom’s text messages to her daughter and used those in court to prosecute promoting an abortion.
Your Representatives contact info is in the resources section. The answer is to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R. 12/S. 701) restoring the right to an abortion nationwide and and the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act (H.R. 767/S. 4467) to make sure the medicine used in 53% of all abortions is available.
Or Use RESISTBOT to send this email. Just text SIGN PVXRGO to 50409.
“I am your constituent and I am appalled to learn that according to the Veritas society and the Wall Street Journal, a company called Near Intelligence, has tracked the location data of people going to 600 Planned Parenthood sites and sold the data to antiabortion groups who target these women. Such data can be used to prosecute women who travel across state lines for abortion healthcare. Senator Ron Wyden has investigated this and you can read his report to the SEC and FTC here. https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/signed_near_letter_to_ftc_and_sec.pdf
Haven’t you had enough of women being treated as so much less than a full person in our country. I sure have. I want you to do everything possible to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R. 12/S. 701) restoring the right to an abortion nationwide and and the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act (H.R. 767/S. 4467) to make sure the medicine used in 53% of all abortions is available.”
RESOURCES
Healthcare Advocacy (Us)
Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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