The Dutch Data Protection Authority has issued a warning to people using period-tracking applications, urging them to be cautious about how their health data is handled.
According to the watchdog, many popular cycle-tracking apps collect sensitive personal information without clearly explaining how that data might be stored, processed, or shared with third parties.
Risks over personal health data
Health information is classified as special category data under European privacy law, meaning it requires higher levels of security and explicit consent before it can be collected.
The regulator noted that several international developers fall short of these strict requirements, exposing users to unwanted commercial profiling or potential security breaches.
How to protect your information
Users who wish to continue tracking their cycles digitally are advised to check privacy settings, use apps that store data locally on the device rather than in the cloud, or consider offline alternatives.
The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens regularly monitors digital health tools to ensure service providers operating within the Netherlands follow strict data protection guidelines.
