Protecting Reproductive Privacy in the Age of Digital Surveillance

• Digital surveillance, including automated license plate readers (ALPRs), location trackers like Locate X, and search history monitoring, is increasingly used to track individuals seeking reproductive healthcare.
• The nonprofit Mayday Health has launched a billboard campaign in Houston to warn pregnant individuals about potential state surveillance and to share information on reproductive rights.
• Surveillance and digital privacy protections are described as inextricably linked, as personal data can be weaponized against those seeking care in states with abortion restrictions.

Surveillance Threats to Reproductive Privacy

• Texas authorities previously used a network of over 83,000 ALPR cameras to investigate a person suspected of self-managing an abortion.
• Beyond license plate readers, tools like "Locate X" and digital search records are frequently used to monitor clinic visits or interest in medication abortion.
• Digital rights groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), emphasize that widespread surveillance creates a "digital dragnet" that threatens personal health autonomy.

Mayday Health's Awareness Campaign

• The organization deployed billboards in the Houston area, aiming to reach over 1,000,000 drivers during a four-week window.
• Billboards circumvent algorithmic censorship and platform restrictions often applied to digital advertising for reproductive health content.
• The campaign directs individuals to resources that emphasize security, such as the Digital Defense Fund, to help people navigate privacy risks.

Privacy-First Advocacy

• Mayday Health operates with a strict privacy policy, avoiding cookies and identifying data collection to ensure the safety of site visitors.
• The organization highlights that abortion pills are FDA-approved, safe, and accessible via mail, despite efforts by some states to restrict access or monitor those seeking them.