Luana Mathias Souto, a new Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) postdoctoral researcher at GenTIC, is leading THELMA, a project that examines the consequences of tracking women’s digital fertility data by the femtech, the technology industry focused on women’s health and well-being.
According to Luana Mathias Souto, the femtech stores female reproductive data, such as information on ovulation and sexual behaviour, without a gender-sensitive regulatory framework. The Reproductive Health under Algorithm Surveillance (THELMA) project aims to improve the current state of fertility data apps and digital surveillance in the EU, focusing on end-users’ experience.
The project will assess the benefits, risks, and potential rights violations of femtech for women in the EU through surveys, interviews, and app reviews. In addition, THELMA will examine EU legal and policy frameworks related to health and data protection and will propose an effective regulatory framework for the femtech industry through a participatory process with stakeholders. The research findings will also lead to the co-creation of open access educational materials on the risks of sharing these data. Ultimately, THELMA will empower women by increasing their knowledge and understanding of the value of their fertility data.
Read more about the THELMA project in this interview with Luana Mathias Souto on UOC News: How to protect women’s rights from the surveillance risks of fertility apps.
You can follow the THELMA project activities and stay tuned for its achievements in this blog.