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Your guide to digital privacy and abortion access

Learn how to safeguard your online searches, use secure messaging, and prevent tracking while seeking abortion care.

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In recent years, our fundamental rights to make decisions about our bodies have been constantly under attack. Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, many state laws have placed significant restrictions on abortion care. Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, with a White House, Congress, and Supreme Court supportive of the anti-abortion movement, we may see even more restrictions in the future. 

Fortunately, we can take steps to protect ourselves. For example, we know that anti-abortion law enforcement has already used online searches, private messages, and other data in court cases. This means it’s important to keep personal information safe when looking for abortion care. Whether you are researching options, talking to someone you trust, getting medical treatment, or traveling to another state to receive care, protecting your privacy is key while navigating the process.

This guide will give you basic strategies and helpful tips to keep your online activity private. While no method is perfect, these best practices will help improve your cybersecurity and online privacy.   

At Hey Jane, we take our patients' privacy seriously. We only operate in states where abortion care is legal, use secure HIPAA-compliant communication methods, and mail treatment in discreet packaging. If you’re looking for safe and private abortion care, check here to see if you're eligible.

Be careful when talking about an abortion

Choosing to share your abortion experience is, of course, a deeply personal decision. It’s natural to want the support of people you trust, but it's also important to consider how sharing this information may affect your privacy. A 2022 study found that most abortion cases reported to law enforcement came from people close to the person seeking care. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, a man in Texas used private text messages to sue his ex-wife and her friends for discussing abortion pills.

To protect your privacy, consider sharing your plans with only one or two trusted people, and meeting in person to discuss logistics. For professional support, you can reach out to abortion funds or trusted hotlines like All-Options and Faith Aloud. They offer confidential help, including financial assistance. 

If you do share your story, make sure the people you trust will respect your boundaries and protect your privacy. Your care and confidentiality matter.

Use safe communication tools

Once you decide who is to include in your abortion experience, you can take steps to keep your conversations private. At Hey Jane, after filling out our secure online form, you’ll be able to communicate with us through a private online portal where you can message, call, or video call us securely. 

Let’s walk through more ways to stay anonymous and connected.

Use secure messaging apps

Talking face-to-face is the safest way to protect your privacy. But if you need to use a device, use secure messaging apps with encryption (which hides your messages). Some of the safest options are:

App Level of Privacy
Signal One of the most secure messaging apps. It offers end-to-end encryption for texts, voice notes, video calls, and file sharing. Signal also avoids storing user data. This means Signal has little or no data to share if a court issues a subpoena, or request for information.
Telegram Has a “Secret Chats” feature with end-to-end encryption. Regular chats are not fully secure and are encrypted only between your device and Telegram’s servers, not end-to-end. If you use Telegram, enable “Secret Chats” for maximum privacy.
Threema Lets you sign up without a phone number or email address, helping to keep you anonymous. All communications are encrypted end-to-end, and the app stores little metadata. (Note: Threema is not free.)
WhatsApp The most popular private messaging app, but that doesn’t mean it’s the safest. It’s owned by Meta (Facebook’s parent company) and provides end-to-end encryption by default. However, the app collects metadata (like phone numbers, timestamps, and contact lists) that could be accessed by Meta or shared with government authorities. Additionally, WhatsApp backups stored in the cloud are not encrypted. To enhance your privacy, turn off cloud backups and enable features like disappearing messages.
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Turn off ad tracking

Your phone or tablet has an ‘ad identifier’ that lets companies track your behavior, location, and more. Turning this off makes it harder for companies to follow your activity and share your information. You can learn how to disable ad identifiers on iOS and Android here.

Turn off location sharing and your devices ‘Find My’ feature

Both iPhones and Androids have a ‘Find My’ feature that lets others track your location. If you're traveling to get an abortion care, or simply don’t want people to see where you are, you may want to turn off this feature to keep your movements private.

If you’re concerned about someone accessing your location data while you’re seeking abortion care, an online clinic like Hey Jane might be an option for you. Simply check if you’re eligible, fill out our secure online intake form, and consult with a provider within 1 business day via secure messaging app, phone, or video call. Hey Jane provides clinic-quality care and medications, but with the added convenience and comfort of not having to leave home. 

Search online safely

Your search history can leave a digital trail, so it’s important to be careful when looking up information about abortion care. 

Start with private browsing modes

When you search, use ‘private’ or ‘incognito’ mode to prevent your browser from saving your search history. This especially helps if the device is shared with other people (e.g., roommates, family members, in a library, etc.). However, ‘private’ or ‘incognito’ mode alone doesn’t prevent websites or your internet service provider from tracking your activity.

Use a privacy-focused browser

Some browsers have stronger built-in privacy features:

  • Safari (on Apple devices) has advanced anti-tracking features and blocks third-party cookies.
  • Firefox offers ‘Enhanced Tracking Protection,’ which automatically blocks many trackers and third-party cookies.
  • Brave goes a step further by blocking ads, cross-site trackers, and fingerprinting scripts by default.

Whichever browser you choose, ensure that privacy settings like cross-site tracking prevention are turned on for maximum protection.

Choose a safe search engine

Search engines like DuckDuckGo or Brave Search do not store your search history, helping to keep your information private.Add extra layers of protectionFor even more privacy, consider using:

  • Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, making it harder for third parties to track your activity.
  • Apple’s iCloud Private Relay: If you’re an Apple user, this feature acts like a VPN by encrypting your internet activity and hiding your location.

Be careful with AI chatbotsAI tools are becoming more common, but they can also store and share data. Many sites use AI to chat with customers and help answer questions, but cloud-based AI tools ‘learn’ from the information you share with them, and may then sell to third parties. Be extremely careful with any information you choose to share with AI tools—especially personal details. Additionally, know that AI chatbots often generate inaccurate information. If you’re looking for help with abortion care, check out our Resources page.

By following these privacy tips, you can reduce your digital footprint and keep your information secure. For safe and private abortion care—without a clinic visit—fill out our secure online form to consult with a Hey Jane provider in 1 business day. Our trusted team will support you every step of the way.

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Written by

Abbi Havens (MSW)

Abbi (she/her) is an Austin-based writer and editor with a passion for queer theory, sexuality, health, and culture. She received her master's degree with a concentration in LGBTQIA+ Sexual Health and Education Interventions from Washington University in St. Louis.

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