Digital Safety Guide

This practical guide to Online Privacy was based on I Need an A privacy guide.

For more information please visit: https://www.ineedana.com/privacy

Privacy Guide to Online Safety

Privacy and safety are incredibly important in our day to day lives, but especially for researching abortions and abortion pills, planning an abortion and for information on reproductive justice. These suggestions can be incorporated into your daily life to improve your privacy .
This guide is is based on the I Need an A privacy guide.

Be mindful of who you tell and how you communicate

First off, you deserve support before, during, and after an abortion. But not everyone might be as supportive as you’d hope. You know your life best, so trust your instincts about who you can tell. Here are a few tips to protect yourself:
‍Ask your loved ones to keep it private.
If you decide to share, let them know it’s really important to keep it just between you and them.
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‍Use apps like Signal for private conversations.
Download the Signal app and turn on disappearing messages.
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This way, your chats won’t leave a trace. We recommend a short time, like a few days.

‍Check if you’re sharing your location.
If you’re using apps like Find My Friends or Life360, it’s a good idea to turn off location sharing temporarily. But if that might raise questions, another option is to leave your phone at home or somewhere safe while you visit the clinic so your location isn’t tracked.
How to turn off your location: iPhone // Android

‍Be careful with social media.
Avoid posting or checking in from locations related to your plans if you are keeping your abortion private.

‍Protect your privacy with a temporary Google number.
If you're worried about the person who pays your phone bill seeing your text messages and phone calls, consider creating a free Google Voice number just for abortion-related conversations. You can delete it when you’re done, giving you extra privacy.

Delete digital records

If you've been searching for abortion resources, it’s a good idea to clear out your digital footprint:‍

Delete text messages and clear your “deleted” folder.
Delete emails and empty your trash.
Erase your search history, browser caches, and Google Maps searches.

For easy guides on deleting history in different browsers, check these links:Chrome // Firefox // Safari Desktop // iPhone Safari // Microsoft Edge

Tips for Keeping Future Searches Private

Use "incognito" or "private" modes to prevent your search history from being stored.
For even better privacy, download and use browsers like Brave, Tor, or Firefox Focus (mobile only) which erase your browsing history as soon as you close them and block tracking.

Pro Tip: Use a VPN

Even with private browsing, your internet service provider (ISP) can still see which websites you visit. To stop this, try using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN hides your real IP address, keeping your online activity private and letting you access content that may be restricted based on your location. Choose VPNs that have no-logging technology like Mullvad, TunnelBear, or ProtonVPN (free with an account).

What is end-to-end encryption?

End-to-end encryption means that only you and the person you’re messaging can read your messages—no one else, not even the app you’re using, can see them. This makes your conversations much more private. Without end-to-end encryption, companies have full access to your messages and could share them with law enforcement if asked.*
Regular SMS messages (those green bubbles, if you’re on an iPhone) can be seen by everyone - including your phone company, who often keep those messages forever. Some messaging apps, like iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook, say that they’re end-to-end encrypted, but make it hard to set up or have serious caveats. That’s why we recommend Signal, which is the only messaging app we’ve found that’s both easy to use and has end-to-end encryption for everything.

‍*Facebook Messenger is now end-to-end encrypted but only for 1:1 messages. You can read more about it here.

Should I delete my period app?!?

You don’t have to delete your period tracking app! Being aware of your menstrual cycle and fertility is more important than ever! We have not seen period app data used in criminal prosecutions of abortions. However, some period apps do use your period data for targeted advertising, which can be pretty creepy. You may choose to switch to a period app that protects your privacy. We recommend Euki. For more analysis on privacy and period trackers, check out this article from Consumer Reports.

To limit personal data from any app being used for creepy targeted advertising, you can also disable your ad ID and opt out of personalized ads.

What about AI Chatbots or "AI overviews"?

Chat GPT or even Googling something can give you wrong information about abortion. The Mark Up and CalMatters compared Google’s AI overview to sites like Ineedana.com and found a lot of inaccurate information on abortion on Google. They also highlighted examples of how AI Chatbots can be biased and harmful.

If you have any questions about abortion access, please email us: support@wenfl.org
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Know who to contact for legal and/or medical advice

If you have more specific questions than we’ve answered, especially if you’re considering self managing your abortion, there are lawyers and medical professionals ready and dedicated to helping.The Repro Legal Helpline is available for free, confidential legal advice, you can call 844-868-2812 or message through this secure online form.

Specifically worried about legal risk?

The most important thing you can do is be careful who you share your experience with. People who have been arrested for self-managed abortions or miscarriages (including in "safe" states), have been reported to the police by healthcare professionals, family, or friends. It’s only after being reported that digital evidence is then used to build a case against them.

This isn’t fair, and it shouldn’t be happening. No one should share your story without your consent—and no one should be punished for having an abortion. You deserve to share your experience on your own terms, with whoever you want to 💜
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It can also be helpful to remember legal risk depends on many things, not just what laws do or don’t say. Just because something is illegal, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get arrested. In fact, most bans specifically say the pregnant person can’t be prosecuted under the law. But, just because something isn’t a crime doesn’t mean you can’t be arrested and harassed by law enforcement (even in “safe” places like California). Everyone’s risk will vary depending on demographics and context. Your risk tolerance is also a very personal thing and can often change over time. If you have any questions or concerns, you can call the Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812 to talk with a lawyer.