My Body, My Data: data sharing, transparency, and control in fertility tracking | Anna Ida Hudig

Fertility tracking apps and devices are widely used to support reproductive health, but what actually happens to the sensitive data they collect? This talk presents research into how these technologies handle intimate information—such as cycle data, mood, and sexual activity—and where that data goes. I explore the nature and destinations of data transmissions, as well as how users perceive these practices.

The talk unpacks nuanced preferences around data sharing, including differences between self-initiated and automated sharing, and between recipients such as academic research groups and advertisers. We will reflect on gendered aspects in this context. I also share ten practical design ideas for improving data transparency and user control—developed together with users and non-users—that can be directly applied in app development.

Anna Ida Hudig is a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, based in the Department of Computer Science and a member of the Compliant and Accountable Systems Group. Her work explores how digital systems can be designed and governed to prioritise transparency and accountability. Anna Ida combines methods from computer science, law, and the social sciences. She holds an LLB in Law and a BSc majored in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Amsterdam, and completed an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge (graduating with distinction). Beyond academia, she has experience at a law firm, contributing to various European projects on cybersecurity, autonomous driving, and responsible AI.