- Planned Parenthood's scheduling tool can share users' locations with Google, The Washington Post reports.
- Data on users' ZIP codes and the type of abortion they sought can flow to third parties.
- Facebook, TikTok, and Hotjar could also access user data, the report said.
Detailed data on abortion seekers who use Planned Parenthood's online scheduling portal could be shared with Facebook, Google, TikTok, and Hotjar, according to an investigation by privacy app Lockdown Privacy reported by The Washington Post.
Data shared with Google from Planned Parenthood's website can include the IP address, approximate ZIP codes, the type of abortion sought, and the particular clinic used by someone seeking an abortion.
Planned Parenthood told the Washington Post that this data sharing is necessary for its targeted advertising efforts. However, privacy experts are raising the alarm over the potential for digital surveillance of abortion seekers, as abortion bans sweep parts of the US following the repeal of Roe v. Wade last week.
Information such as user search history and IP addresses can be subject to judicial subpoenas in criminal cases. Abortion is now prohibited in 17 states, a number that is expected to grow as legislators react to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe, a 1973 ruling which protected abortion rights.
A VICE report last month caused ripples after a reporter successfully purchased phone location data on people who visited abortion clinics from a data broker. Democrats have called on the FTC to more securely protect the personal data of people seeking abortions.
Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment outside of normal business hours.