Want to use Apple’s new interactive “Siri” on your iPhone? “She” has tons of information–just as long as you don’t ask about birth control, abortion, emergency contraception or even mammograms.
In asking Siri a few easy reproductive-health questions, it was discovered that she appears to have a blind spot when it comes to women’s health.
Q: I am pregnant and do not want to be. Where can I go to get an abortion?
“I’m really sorry about this, but I can’t take any requests right now. Please try again in a little while.”
“Sorry, [my name], I can’t look for places in Tanzania.”
“I don’t see any abortion clinics. Sorry about that.”
Q: I had unprotected sex. Where can I go for emergency contraception?
“Sorry, I couldn’t find any adult retail stores.” This was repeated every time.
Q: I need birth control. Where can I go for birth control?
“I didn’t find any birth control clinics.” [This was repeated every time I asked about birth control, all three times. This is also the answer given when I asked, “What is birth control?”]
But she does have some sage advice. Ask for a CPC, and she can find them. And in some cases, asking for an abortion clinic will get you a CPC instead, too. Oh, and don’t worry about finding Viagra–Siri’s got that covered.
UPDATE: The Abortioneers have started a petition asking Apple to make Siri a better women’s health resource–you can sign here:
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Reprinted with permission from RHReality Check.
Photo from Flickr user Renatomitra under Creative Commons 2.0.
