As conservative states across the US enact laws banning abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, privacy experts say women’s digital footprints could soon be used against them.
Since 1973, women in America had the legal right to abortions protected under the US Constitution.
But the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v Wade upended nearly a half-century of legal precedent and has thrown the country into very uncertain times. The top court ruling means that individual states, and not the federal government, now decide if abortion will be legal or not.
Already, restrictive abortion laws have gone into effect in Republican-led states across the US, some of which do not grant exceptions even in the case of incest or rape.
In today’s world, streams of data follow nearly everyone as they go about their daily life. That smartphone or watch leaves a record of where you’ve been, who you have spoken to and what you’ve searched for online.
All of that data could be potential evidence for aggressive prosecutors in states that have banned abortions.
“It's almost impossible nowadays for people to access information or even participate in society without visible platforms," said Caitlin Chin, a fellow in the Strategic Technology Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
"Unfortunately, those same digital trails can be used against people."
Ms Chin said the Supreme Court’s decision may have galvanised conservative prosecutors across the country.
It could "also create a chilling effect, where people may be scared to even obtain the necessary health information that they need just because they don't want to be prosecuted,” she told The National.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling, droves of women have deleted period-tracking and fertility apps, but experts warn that isn’t enough.
“Data about a person’s reproductive health decisions can also be revealed from sources like their browser and search histories, email and text message logs, use of reproductive health apps, and other commercial products with which many users interact daily,” Alexandra Reeves Given, the chief executive for the Centre for Technology and Democracy, said.
Privacy concerns have led some of the world’s biggest technology companies to put in safeguards that will help protect certain data points.
Last week, Google said it would delete location entries at some health facilities.
“Some of the places people visit — including medical facilities like counselling centres, domestic violence shelters, abortion clinics, fertility centres, addiction treatment facilities, weight loss clinics, cosmetic surgery clinics, and others — can be particularly personal,” the tech giant said in a release.
“We’re announcing that if our systems identify that someone has visited one of these places, we will delete these entries from Location History soon after they visit.”
Nathan Wessler, Deputy Director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, said Google should be lauded but more needed to be done.
At the state and federal level there needs to be “strong consumer privacy laws” that protect individuals and “end abusive data practices", he said.
Without big tech’s help and the necessary privacy laws, he said there was only so much women can do to protect their data from prosecutors' prying eyes.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
The Internet
Hive Mind
four stars
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
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Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
