Katherine O'Brien, Associate Director of Communications and Campaigns, said:

“During the current pandemic, we have seen how technology can be used to expand women’s access to essential reproductive healthcare, for example through the provision of telemedical abortion services.

"However, this report shows that at the same time that we are making strides forwards, anti-choice organisations are developing new digital tactics to block women’s access to healthcare. We know that more women will be seeking information and support online because of the closure of GP surgeries and clinics, and this gives anti-choice organisations more opportunities to intercept and redirect women seeking abortion care. These groups are very adept at hiding their true aims, and they can cause real distress to women by providing misinformation and delaying their access to treatment.

"Anti-choice groups in the UK copy the tactics and tools of their counterparts overseas, particularly those in USA. Pro-choice advocates must work together on a global level to expose and advocate against this new threat to reproductive rights.”

ENDS

For more information, please call 07788 725 185 or email press@bpas.org

Read the full report here: https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3669/documentation-data-exploitation-sexual-and-reproductive-rights

About bpas

bpas is a charity which sees almost 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception, at clinics across the UK. It supports and advocates for reproductive choice. BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, which seeks to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers women’s access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare, driven by an understanding of women’s perspectives and needs. You can find out more here: https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/centre-for-reproductive-research-communication/