NAVIGATING Privacy IN INTIMATE HEALTH TECH

Navigating Privacy in Intimate Health Technologies: Using the Story Completion Method and a Design Probe Kit to Explore Intimate Data

Diana P. Moniz

MSc Thesis 2024, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal

Intimate Health Technologies (IHT) are transforming the landscape of personal health by providing innovative solutions in areas such as sexual and reproductive health (SRH), mental well-being, and personal care. These technologies collect and store intimate data, raising significant privacy concerns. Despite regulations like the GDPR, ambiguities and inadequate privacy practices persist, potentially putting users at risk. This thesis investigates user perceptions and management of privacy within IHT through two user studies employing creative methods: story completion and design probes. The research explores privacy dilemmas, behaviors, and preferences, offering design recommendations to enhance privacy and consent processes. The findings highlight the importance of user-centric approaches in addressing privacy in intimate health contexts, contributing to both academic literature and practical design improvements in the field.

The thesis (pdf) is available here.