Washington Shields Abortion Data in First-in-Nation Privacy Law

Washington has adopted a first-of-its-kind state law with sweeping safeguards for consumer health data collected by companies from telehealth platforms to period-tracking apps, as well as location records that could reveal visits to abortion clinics and other health-care facilities.

Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, signed the legislation into law Thursday. The measure, known as the My Health My Data Act, was introduced as part of a local legislative effort to protect abortion access after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.

Washington’s new privacy law seeks to protect consumer location data, and restrict the gathering and ...