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Dear readers, today we are going to talk about a serious topic: the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). An innovative company, called Calmara, surprised everyone by offering an original solution to say the least: take a photo of the sex of your potential partner and use its AI to determine if they are « safe. »
First, it’s important to point out that it’s not a good idea to photograph anyone’s genitals to analyze them using an AI tool to determine whether or not you should have sex. This concept from the Calmara company, unexpected to say the least, has sparked a certain number of reactions within the community.
Indeed, many people criticize this strange idea, due to many problems closely linked to this concept. First of all, the majority of STIs are asymptomatic, this means that an individual can carry an STI without showing any symptoms. In this case, it would be impossible for Calmara’s AI to detect it.
According to Daphne Chen, founder of TBD Health, « Even the most rigorous tests have a certain margin of error and are not infallible. This is why it is important to understand under what conditions these tests are carried out and to put the results into perspective obtained. »
In other words, Calmara’s AI might just give you a false sense of security, which could have serious consequences.
Fortunately, some start-ups, more responsible in my opinion, are committed to finding solutions to facilitate STI screening. These laudable initiatives should be supported and encouraged wherever possible to mitigate the potentially disastrous consequences of STIs.
Furthermore, Calmara, despite his somewhat eccentric idea, insists on the fact that his service is not intended to replace medical advice. Indeed, Mei-Ling Lu, co-founder and CEO of Calmara, says the company presents itself as a lifestyle product rather than a medical app.
Additionally, when talking about taking photos as private as those offered by Calmara, issues of data privacy and security must come to the fore. Indeed, it is important to remember that despite Calmara and HeHealth’s statements regarding their compliance with HIPAA regulations, which protect confidential patient information, their privacy policies remain somewhat unclear.
In conclusion, Calmara’s idea, although ambitious, poses several ethical and data security issues. Even though sexual health is a difficult subject to discuss and innovate, it is essential not to play with the safety of individuals. Thus, we conclude that Calmara must rework its concept and ensure maximum security and confidentiality to its users.
