MILWAUKEE INDEPENDENT: Surveillance capitalism and abortion law
UC information technology expert Nora McDonald writes opinion piece on data privacy
In an op-ed on privacy and abortion law, UC’s information technology expert Nora McDonald, explains how the overturning of Roe v Wade has the potential to hurt already marginalized populations who rely on the internet for information.
“Many marginalized people happen to be women, including low-income mothers, for whom the mere act of applying for public assistance can subject them to presumptions of criminal intent,” writes McDonald, an assistant professor of information technology in UC’s School of Information Technology.
McDonald writes that anyone in a state where abortion becomes illegal who relies on the internet for information, products and services related to reproductive health would be subject to online policing; and the policing could extend to anything relevant to pregnancy. For example, browser searches for abortion clinics or pregnancy symptoms.
“Before, women had to worry only that Target or Amazon might learn of their pregnancies. Based on what is already known about privacy incursions by law enforcement against marginalized people, it is likely that in a post-Roe world women will be more squarely in the crosshairs of digital forensics.
The op-ed, which appears in the MILWAUKEE INDEPENDENT, originally appeared in The Conversation, also provides tips on online in a pre and potential post-Roe world.
Featured image at top: Adobe
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
UC reinstalls Bearcat sculpture in time for commencement
April 27, 2026
The University of Cincinnati reinstalled the Fighting Bearcat statue after it was removed three years ago to make way for the new Sheakley Indoor Practice Facility and reconstruction of Champions Way.
Digital Futures brings fire safety to the screen
April 27, 2026
Fire Escape is a video game created by the Digital Performance Lab in Digital Futures that teaches kids how to survive and escape a house fire. The video game is now available to play in the Cincinnati Fire Museum, and is expanding to other museums across the country.
Some high school students do take gap years
April 27, 2026
Cleveland Magazine spoke with Teneisha Dyer, assistant dean for student recruitment and marketing at the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and Information Technology, for a story about high school students considering taking a gap year after graduation.