- Calmara, launched in the United States by the technology firm HeHealth, positions itself as the ‘tech-savvy companion for STI screenings’
- Concerns have been raised by experts regarding privacy issues, citing the inability to ensure consent or secure data storage
- Another issue highlighted is the challenge in verifying the age of individuals photographed, particularly if they are over 18 years old
By Isabelle Stanley For Dailymail.Com
The realm of artificial intelligence has extended its reach into various facets of our existence, breaching the sanctity of the bedroom with a novel intrusion.
A recent application is encouraging women to capture images of their partners’ genitals and submit them for an AI-powered ‘genital check’ to screen for potential sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prior to engaging in sexual activity. This process lacks mechanisms to confirm the consent of those photographed or validate their age as being above 18.
Calmara, developed by HeHealth, presents itself as your ‘tech-savvy companion for STI screenings,’ prompting users to ‘take a snapshot’ for the AI to analyze for ‘visual indicators of STIs’ and swiftly provide feedback on one’s status.
While the concept is groundbreaking, the app encounters challenges in terms of reliability, acknowledged by the company on their website. In certain scenarios, the accuracy rate is only 65 percent, indicating a margin of error of one in three instances.
Furthermore, experts have sounded the alarm on significant privacy concerns. Engadget, a technology publication, cautioned against utilizing an AI-powered STI test, emphasizing the absence of mechanisms for ensuring consent or maintaining secure data storage.
Calmara is accessible at no cost and has been trained using a multitude of genital images sourced from the public and validated by medical professionals.
Users can easily download the application, capture an image of their partner’s genitals, and upload it within moments.
The embedded AI then scrutinizes the image, cross-referencing it with the database of images to detect potential STI indicators.
If any red flags are identified, the user is advised to postpone sexual activity and recommended actions such as using protection or consulting a healthcare provider—without disclosing the specific suspected illness.
In cases where no anomalies are detected, the user receives a ‘clear’ signal to proceed.
However, Calmara includes a disclaimer on their platform, portraying it as a preliminary defense measure rather than a comprehensive solution.
The disclaimer states: ‘Calmara excels in identifying visible indicators, but bear in mind, some STIs operate stealthily, remaining asymptomatic or manifesting weeks after exposure. Additionally, certain conditions may not be detectable in the areas Calmara scans. Therefore, a “Clear!” indication from Calmara does not negate the necessity for further screenings.’
The accuracy of the app ranges from 65 percent to 96 percent across various conditions, with performance influenced by factors like lighting and skin tone.
Basil Donovan, a sexual health expert and emeritus professor at UNSW’s Kirby Institute, expressed reservations regarding the technology’s current capabilities.
Donovan remarked, ‘Even in a well-lit clinic, with a physician possessing decades of experience… assessing a genital lesion visually alone yields limited diagnostic value.’
Apart from concerns surrounding accuracy and consent, data security and privacy also emerge as prominent issues.
The app stipulates that users must have explicit consent from all individuals featured in the images before uploading them, yet there is no mechanism to verify compliance with this requirement.
Additionally, there is no foolproof method to confirm that users are of legal age.
Within the app’s terms and conditions, HeHealth’s parent company states: ‘HeHealth Inc. mandates that all users confirm their legal adult status (18 years or older) during the account creation process. Nevertheless, HeHealth Inc. lacks the capability to authenticate the age of users accessing and utilizing the service.’
In light of accuracy, consent, and privacy concerns, the issue of data security looms large for experts.
Calmara assures that data is securely stored within the United States, with no collection of identifiable information or retention of photographs.
Simon Ruth, the CEO of Thorne Harbour Health, emphasized the critical importance of stringent data security protocols, citing recent incidents that underscore the vulnerability of private health information to hacking and unauthorized dissemination.
Ruth emphasized, ‘While technological advancements may engage individuals who previously overlooked sexual health and well-being measures, it cannot substitute regular STI screenings.’
At the time of reporting, Calmara had not responded to inquiries from DailyMail.com.
