How private is my data in an AI mental health app?
By Siri Bandagiriye · It depends on the app, so read the privacy policy first. Check where your data is stored, who can read it, and whether you can delete it. Saati stores your data in Canada and lets you ask it to forget what it knows about you.
It varies a great deal, so read the privacy policy before you share anything personal. Look for three things: where your data is stored, who can read it, and whether you can delete it.
For Saati: your data is stored in Canada, and you can ask Saati to forget what it knows about you. The full details are in our privacy policy, written in plain language.
What the research says
When Mozilla reviewed 32 mental health and prayer apps in 2022, 28 of the 32 apps received its Privacy Not Included warning label.1
In Mozilla's 2023 follow-up, 59% of the top mental health apps it reviewed still got a privacy warning label, and 40% had gotten worse than the year before.2
The American Psychological Association warns that AI chatbots and wellness apps collect vast amounts of sensitive data, often under unclear policies on how it is used, stored and sold.3
Written by Siri Bandagiriye
I've been a Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher for 30 years, and for six years a chaplain with Correctional Service Canada, sitting with people in crisis. I built Saati in Halifax as a companion for the ordinary hard days. If you'd like to see what it's like, it's free to try.