A California Democratic representative reintroduced legislation to protect personal reproductive health data on Wednesday, the same day a federal appeals court considered whether to strike down federal approval of the abortion drug mifepristone.
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) reintroduced the My Body, My Data Act of 2022 on the House floor on Wednesday. The bill aims to limit the collection of personal reproductive and sexual health data not protected by HIPAA regulations that are stored on period tracking apps and cellphones, search engines, and other entities.
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In New Orleans, three federal judges are considering an appeal to a Texas judge's April decision to strike down the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, one of two drugs used for medical abortions. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel seemed skeptical of the agency's approval of the drug during the hearing.
Both mifepristone and misoprostol remain available nationwide as the court hearing plays out.
Jacobs introduced the same legislation in 2022 when Democrats held the majority, but it failed to gain traction. Now, as it is being introduced in the Republican-led lower chamber, the bill may face even more obstacles to becoming law.
However, Jacobs said in a statement that it has "never been more urgent to protect our reproductive and sexual health data."
"Like millions of young people, I use a period tracking app — and the information in these apps, along with fertility tracking apps, search history, location data, and so much more, can be collected, shared, and sold without our consent and even used to investigate and prosecute legal cases," Jacobs said, adding that the act puts "power back in people’s hands and ensure that we control our own personal data."
"My legislation provides the highest level of protection for reproductive and sexual health data — and I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support and pass it," Jacobs continued.
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Republicans have taken steps to prevent similar data privacy protection bills at the state level, most recently in Virginia.
Virginia Republicans, directed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), shelved a bill in February that would have prohibited authorities from using search warrants to seize menstrual data histories stored in tracking apps on electronic devices.