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Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, an application claims to be able to inform you about a possible sexual infection by simply presenting a photo of your genitals. An operation which turns out to be dangerous in more than one way. Here’s why.
Using artificial intelligence to create an application is not always a guarantee of quality, especially when it comes to sexual health. This is evidenced by a latest application, Calmara, born “supposedly” to identify a possible sexually transmitted infection in less than a minute. How ? By consentingly sending a photo of your penis! (only organ on which the app works).
Disgust and colors… A non-medical site singled out
On its flashy colored site, decorated with eggplant emoji, Calmara explains how it works. From a photo of a penis (especially if it includes “suspicious spots”), the app can identify “more than 10 kinds of health problems”, thanks to cutting-edge AI since “reliable up to 94.4%”. A boon for young people who have health questions.
First problem, the site indicates below “accuracy levels ranging from 65% to 96% under different conditions”. What about it? It is difficult to have a precise answer since there are no reliable sources or studies to support these figures. In addition, Calmara claims to recognize “more than 10 sexually transmitted infections”when there are around thirty to date.
As the World Health Organization points out, in humans, the vast majority of sexually transmitted infections are asymptomatic and do not show visible signs. And when they are present, symptoms can take several weeks or months to appear. Hence the interest in having a blood test to be screened.
STD as Misleading Health Marketing?
What do the founders say about these inaccuracies? When the media TechCrunch extends the pole or rather the microphone to Mei-Ling Lu, the co-founder and CEO of the application, she hits the nail on the head, explaining that “Calmara is a lifestyle product, not a medical application”, and that its goal is only “to open the dialogue on IST tests”.
This is not what is described on the site, which presents itself as an AI-based solution, “designed by doctors” et whose results allow you to give the green light for sexual intercourse. A speech which could prove counterproductive, knowing that only condoms can protect you from STIs, most of which are not “visible” (not to mention that the presence of “suspicious spots” should a priori be sufficient to prioritize a consultation a trifle…).
Of course, it is recommended to make a medical appointment, but the mention appears much further on the site.
Be careful, the little bird is going to come out…
Finally, last problem and not the least, what about the protection of your data delivered in the simplest device? Again, mystery. Calmara ensures that the photos disappear once the results are obtained. But its privacy policy indicates that the information it collects is shared with partners for questions “data hosting and analysis“, and of “marketing”. There is also nothing to indicate how “anonymous” mode can prevent anyone from going back to your IP.
Finally, if the app is prohibited for those under 18, it does not say how it manages to enforce this condition. In other words, it remains impossible to really know where your intimate photo might end up.
Finally, if in doubt about a possible infection, the good reflex is to go to your doctor, who will not only be able to recognize your symptoms, while being subject to confidentiality. In addition, free information, screening and diagnosis centers (CeGIDD) for human immunodeficiency virus infections, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections allow anonymous and free screening. Find the one closest to you below.