This study aims to research the ethical frameworks employed by Femtech companies behind menstrual cycle tracking apps, focusing on the prevalence of the ethics of justice and the ethics of care...Show moreThis study aims to research the ethical frameworks employed by Femtech companies behind menstrual cycle tracking apps, focusing on the prevalence of the ethics of justice and the ethics of care within their codes of conduct. The study highlights the privacy risks surrounding the sensitive data managed by these apps, especially in light of the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States. The research employs a qualitative content analysis method to examine the codes of conduct from 20 popular Femtech companies, analysing them through the lens of ethics of justice and ethics of care. The findings indicate a presence of the ethics of care over the ethics of justice, with key principles such as care, contextuality, relationality, and emotionality being more prevalent in the analysed documents. This suggests that these companies prioritize user-specific needs and contextual understanding over universal rules and fairness. However, the study also reveals that the ethics of justice are not entirely absent, emphasizing universality, fairness, individuality, and rationality in moral decision-making processes. These results highlight the importance of considering both ethical frameworks in the development and regulation of Femtech applications. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers and companies to enhance transparency and trust, by publicising codes of conduct including both ethical perspectives.Show less
