Is the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the FemTech Industry Feminist? The Bioethical and Legal Dilemmas in the FemTech Industry from a Feminist Perspective

Abstract

This article offers another ‘take’ on the lively and current discussions being
held on the outline of bioethical principles and legal regulation of artificial
intelligence technologies, in the areas of medicine and health. It examines to
what extent women’s interests and feminist agendas are taken into account in
these discussions. For this purpose, the article focuses on the FemTech industry.
It is specifically interested in AI-based technologies in the area of medicine and
health that targets women and is focused on female issues. By doing so, the
article studies the crossroads between AI-based technologies’ regulation,
devices in favor of medicine and health, and technologies targeted for women.
Based on empirical illustrations, and in light of the current positive law, the
article explores the bioethical and legal dilemmas in the FemTech Industry from
a feminist perspective. It specifically asks whether the use of AI in the FemTech
industry can be considered feminist. In other words, it explores whether the
technologies that aim to treat women’s health, address new challenges facing
feminist ethics or social philosophy, or if they simply raise old bioethical
questions in relation to new technologies. The article looks at the advantages,
alongside the challenges, of AI-based FemTech devices from a feminist
perspective. Additionally, it sets the grounds for a feminist regulatory and
ethical policy, with respect to AI-based medical devices.