Safeguarding in FemTech: Protecting users of digital abortion tools in restrictive contexts

The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of millions of women, girls, and people of reproductive capacity is under threat across the Americas. Digital SRH tools can offer critical and life-saving resources in restrictive contexts, but data are often monitored and collected by third parties. This form of surveillance carries significant emotional, physical, and legal risks to the users of digital tools. To highlight the need for transparent, safe, and accountable FemTech and digital health environments, this commentary shares insights on the safeguarding considerations for Aya Contigo, a digital medication abortion and contraception tool. The app was developed in Venezuela through a participatory design methodology and was later expanded to other Latin American countries and the United States. To maximize user privacy and security, Aya Contigo was developed with a user-centered design approach and input from digital cybersecurity experts. The app safeguards users through its user-operated security features and back-end data minimization and security policies. Despite adhering to best practice guidelines, interactive digital health platforms such as Aya Contigo carry inherent privacy and security risks which must be transparently conveyed to users. In a global digital space where regulation is often sparse, SRH-focused resources must include a robust and adaptable safeguarding strategy to best protect users and create mechanisms for accountability.