Abortion ruling creates new risks for US tech firms

Significance

The troves of personal data that they accumulate, the vulnerability of their platforms, products and services to charges of 'aiding and abetting' abortion, and the ubiquity of their industry in all 50 states risk making tech firms targets of conservative activists set on ending abortion.

Impacts

• Anti-abortion activists will next target abortion medications, potentially putting e-commerce, telehealth and logistic firms at risk.
• Tech companies' risks will be further elevated if the Supreme Court strikes down protections for contraception and LGBTQ+ rights.
• Some tech companies deciding to cease business in restrictive states could be a model other sectors will follow.