Why abortion is also a tech issue

It’s not often I get news about the Supreme Court and think: this is actually ok. 

Last Thursday (June 13th), the Supreme Court unanimously ruled to uphold access to the abortion medication mifepristone. This means that people seeking abortion care can order mifepristone online and have it mailed to them without an in-person doctor’s appointment. Maintaining easy access to mifepristone ensures people can make their own reproductive choices, especially as abortion care continues to be under dire threat in the U.S. 

While this decision is welcome news, the fight is certainly not over. And it’s important to remember that tech is not neutral in the fight for reproductive justice. For millions, after Dobbs, the internet became the only way to find reproductive healthcare. Anti-abortion groups and lawmakers know this, and their aim is to make every place — including online spaces — dangerous for seeking abortion care.

Abortion-seekers in 13 states have to contend with laws restricting the use of telehealth to obtain abortion medicines, obstructing a technological solution to abortion access. Some state governments are trying to prevent people from getting abortion information by restricting access to the internet while other states are trying to protect users. In 2022, legislators in South Carolina and Texas introduced bills that seek to prohibit websites that provide abortion resources. Meanwhile, Washington State legislators are protecting residents with a state law that requires companies to get users’ explicit consent before sharing their data. 

So what’s next? The mifepristone fight could continue at the state level. The district court has already allowed Kansas, Missouri, and Idaho to continue their legal challenge and attempt to make the internet a hazardous place for access to abortion medication. More states could join that list. And in addition to this, the companies that govern our digital spaces are still aiding in the criminalization and prosecution of those daring to make their own medical decisions.

Abortion access and tech issues are tied together. If you care about a free, open, and safe internet for all, you should care about abortion access as well and vice versa. 

As a movement, we have to take on abortion issues from all sides. We need collective action against the companies that manage our online spaces. We must demand that our elected officials do everything they can to protect access to abortion, which includes regulating tech companies and curbing the ways in which Big Tech aids in the restriction of abortion access.

In a world where in-person reproductive healthcare is inaccessible to so many, the internet must be a place where everyone can find true, reliable information and access to care.