In the summer of 2023, Nebraska prosecutors used Facebook messages to convict a teen girl and her mother of an illegal abortion. In June of 2024, Alabama law enforcement used a person’s phone to track their journey to an out-of-state abortion clinic. Our everyday activities leave a digital trail, a trail that state courts may use against individuals seeking to exercise their reproductive rights. As a consulting company that works with abortion funds, we feel it is important that abortion-seekers know how to minimize their digital footprint to protect themselves.
The very first thing you may do when you find out you are pregnant is start searching the internet for answers. But your activities on the internet are constantly tracked. Even if you use private browsing mode, there is still a lot of information in your search history that law enforcement can use to prove your intent to seek an abortion. Privacy-oriented search engines like Mullvad or Librewolf do a lot less tracking than Chrome or Duckduckgo. If law enforcement subpoenaed them, the most they could find out is that you used the service.
Your phone, computer, or tablet has a unique address (just like your home) that can be used to know what you were doing online. When you visit some websites, fill out an online form, or accept cookies, that address often gets captured. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service you can sign up for that will mask your phone or computer’s address. This will make it harder to track your online search history.
It goes without saying that if you are in an anti-choice state, you should not post about your abortion or intent to get an abortion, but as the story of the Nebraska teen and her mother shows, even messaging through Social Media is a bad idea. If you use Reddit to look for information about an abortion, create an alt account. Your activities on social media are very closely monitored, and social media companies will hand over that information if subpoenaed.
If you talk with close family and/or friends about your abortion, only talk in person or using a secure messaging app.
iPhone-to-iPhone and Android-to-Android text messages are encrypted, but (as of this writing), messages between iPhone and Android devices are not. A third party could easily eavesdrop on your messages to see what’s going on.
Other messaging applications are not necessarily secure either. WhatsApp is owned by Meta, which has been very willing to hand over private data to law enforcement. We recommend using an app that has end-to-end encryption, like Signal.
According to Emma Roth, of the National Advocates for Pregnant Women, “The most common way that a criminal case [for an abortion] begins is that they are reported by a medical provider.” Laws about what healthcare providers have to report vary by state and are constantly changing. While you should always seek advice from an expert healthcare provider, you should not talk to them about your abortion unless you’re absolutely certain that you will be protected. You can go to INeedAnA.com to find information about trusted providers in your area. We also recommend reaching out to your local abortion fund for more information. Well-established funds are constantly on top of state laws and keep lists of trusted providers.
If you live in an anti-choice state, and the abortion pill is not an option, then you will need to travel. The problem is that your travels can be tracked. Tools that are used to advertise to you, based on your location, are now being used by law enforcement to track people who visit clinics. It probably is not realistic to leave your phone behind when you travel out of state, but you should leave your phone and smartwatch behind when you visit the clinic. (Don’t stay at a hotel close to the clinic.) Print out your appointment and driving directions ahead of time. A local abortion fund might also have volunteers who can give you a ride.
Our work with nonprofits tends to be behind the scenes, but our mission is ultimately about helping the people nonprofits serve. We have created this guide so that you can protect yourself and so that nonprofits that work in reproductive justice can equip their clients with information that can keep them safe.
Thais is an Associate Cybersecurity Consultant here at Undaunted Consulting. safeguard their digital systems and protect sensitive data from cyber threats.
David is the founder of Undaunted Consulting. He specializes in data management system optimization and rapid app development for social service, social justice, and environmental justice nonprofits.