Many established boundaries have begun to switch when it comes to the subgenre cyberpunk. In particular, the ethical lines have been blurred when it comes to the enhanced technology that is invading our lives, especially our private and personal lives. Recently women have found out that some of the apps on our phone are receiving data from our inputs and then in some circumstances selling our information. These apps unfortunately are the center of attention for a whole entire week during the month and sometimes even more frequently. Most women have probably already come to the conclusion that these applications that I am talking about are period tracking apps. For those seven days during the month, sometimes less or more, women enter their personal data into these systems and algorithms that are built to gather and contain sensitive information. Everybody is already privy to the fact that the terms and guidelines that we are forced to sign when downloading and running apps are extremely hefty and long. Within these numerous pages of legal jargon it explains how the information that is inputted can and will be sold for analytics and/or profit. This then intertwines with the overturning of roe v wade which may be new information for some. Abortion is now illegal in many states and restricted for some. This means that if a woman needs an abortion for personal reasons or because of an emergency they are out of luck and might have to travel state lines to receive proper care. By looking at specific statistics within these aforementioned apps it is clear that there is a bigger picture being painted. Their system will allow employees and companies to see who has had an abortion, and if warranted then they could probably find out in what state the user lives. If the state happens to be pro-life then the user could get punished harshly for such actions. These apps are disguised as harmless, but in reality the minute act of entering one’s period flow can lead to serious and life-altering jail time. Technology continues to invade our personal lives and lines will forever be blurred if boundaries are not set in place to protect us and our privacy.
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