Modesty, Privacy and New Health Tech: Are 3D Body Scans Permissible?

When a simple shoe fitting becomes a test of faith and privacy: a family guide

Hook: You just learned a local wellness startup wants to 3D-scan your child's bare feet to make “custom insoles.” You worry about modesty, who will see the scan, how the data will be stored, and if this is even necessary. Welcome to a new crossroads: modern wellness tech meets Islamic ethics.

The Groov 3D story — why families are asking questions in 2026

In January 2026 The Verge published a first-hand account of Groov, a startup offering phone-based 3D scanning of bare feet. The reporter described propping a leg on a chair while a CEO used an iPhone to scan bare feet from multiple angles — a harmless service for many, but an uncomfortable moment for those who place a high value on privacy and modesty. The article also frames the product among a wider trend: many consumer wellness devices promise personalization but deliver modest clinical value, prompting critics to call some offerings “placebo tech.”

That episode captures three concerns parents and caregivers repeatedly raise in 2026: (1) Is exposing a bare body part for scanning permissible? (2) How secure is the biometric data being collected? (3) Can families preserve dignity and faith-aligned practice while taking advantage of helpful health technologies?

Why this matters now: 2025–2026 trends shaping the question

• Wider availability of phone-based 3D scanning: Newer phones (LIDAR and structured light sensors) and apps made at-home 3D capture common by late 2025.
• Regulatory scrutiny of biometric data: States and regions updated frameworks on biometric and health data handling in 2024–2025; laws such as the Illinois BIPA and GDPR remain touchstones for data rights.
• Privacy-preserving tech matures: 2025–2026 saw more federated learning, differential privacy techniques, and on-device processing reaching consumer apps — meaning better options exist to avoid cloud uploads.
• Growth of wellness startups: The boom in direct-to-consumer health gadgets prompted debates about clinical benefit vs. marketing claims. Consumers and Muslim families are asking stronger questions about necessity and dignity.

Islamic ethical framework: modesty, harm, and necessity

Islamic jurisprudence evaluates new practices using core principles: satr/awrah (modesty and which parts of the body should be covered), darar (harm), maslahah (public good), and darura (necessity). These principles guide whether allowing a scan of a bare body part is permissible.

Awrah and context

Views on which body parts constitute awrah vary by madhhab (school of thought), age, and gender. For many families, exposing a child’s or woman’s feet to a non-mahram (someone who is not an immediate family member or spouse) may be uncomfortable or considered impermissible. Men’s awrah (classically navel to knee) and children’s considerations differ and require context-sensitive judgment.

Intention, necessity, and alternatives

Islamic rulings often balance benefit against harm. If a medical need requires a scan and there is no reasonable alternative, scholars may permit limited exposure under controlled, private conditions. When the benefit is convenience or commercial personalization rather than essential health care, many families and scholars urge caution.

Rule of thumb: If a non-essential service requires exposing a part you would normally cover, demand alternatives or decline.

Is a 3D foot scan the same as exposing awrah?

Technically, a 3D mesh or high-resolution image of a body part captures a visual record that could be replicated, stored and shared. For families who view the feet (or other scanned body parts) as awrah, this creates the same religious and privacy objection as physical exposure. The difference is the permanence and portability of digital data: once recorded, a scan can be disseminated in ways physical exposure cannot.

So while a quick visual inspection by a same-sex clinician might be regarded differently than a cloud-stored 3D mesh captured by a startup, both raise serious ethical concerns. The safer path is to treat digital scans as having equal or greater gravity when it comes to modesty.

Data security and privacy: what Muslim families should know

3D body scans are a form of biometric data. In many jurisdictions, biometric information receives heightened legal protection because it is unique and often immutable. From a trust perspective, ask questions about how the company handles that data.

Key technical and legal points to ask vendors

• Where is the data stored? On-device (best), private encrypted servers, or public cloud? Multi-cloud or cloud-only approaches change risk profiles and make on-device options preferable.
• How long do you keep scans? Ask for a data retention policy with the option to delete on request.
• Is the data encrypted at rest and in transit? Look for AES-256 or comparable standards and TLS for transport.
• Who has access? Does the company or third-party contractors view raw scans, or only derived measurements?
• Is data anonymized? Are scans stripped of identifiers? Note that a 3D mesh can still be re-identifiable.
• Are they HIPAA, GDPR, or BIPA-compliant? Depending on your country and whether the vendor markets to the US, EU, or other regions, specific legal protections may apply — and recent healthcare data incidents show how costly lapses can be.

Practical, faith-aligned steps families can follow (Actionable checklist)

Below is a step-by-step approach Muslim families can use when offered any bare-body or sensitive-area scan — whether for insoles, posture scanning, or other wellness tech.

1. Pause and assess the necessity. Ask: Is this medically necessary or purely commercial convenience? If it’s a non-essential service, request alternatives.
2. Request same-sex staff and a private space. If exposure is unavoidable, insist on a private room and a same-sex technician. For children, request a guardian present; vendors running privacy-first hiring practices are more likely to accommodate gender and privacy needs.
3. Prefer at-home or on-device scans. Use solutions that process scans on the phone and send only measurements, not raw meshes — see guidance on on-device processing and edge-first workflows.
4. Get written data policies and deletion rights. Require a clear written statement that you can request complete deletion and see how they verify deletion — ask if they provide a deletion certificate or documented proof.
5. Insist on minimal data collection. Ask them to capture only what’s needed (e.g., foot length and width) and nothing more.
6. Ask for anonymization and limited retention. A vendor should be able to guarantee that identifiable links are removed and data is retained only as long as needed for manufacturing.
7. Contact local scholars for guidance. For sensitive cases, consult your imam or a trusted mufti who understands both fiqh principles and modern tech risks.
8. Teach children boundaries. Explain why we protect our bodies and how to say no respectfully when asked to remove coverings without a clear reason; resources on child-friendly guidance can help frame age-appropriate conversations.

Scripted questions to ask a vendor right now

• Do you process scans on the device or upload them to your servers?
• How long do you retain raw scan files, and can I request deletion in writing?
• Will a same-sex technician perform the scan in a private room?
• Can you create the insole from measurements only (no raw image or 3D mesh)?
• Are you willing to sign a short data-use agreement limiting use strictly to manufacturing this product?

Alternatives to bare-body 3D scanning

If you decide a scan isn’t compatible with your values or comfort level, here are practical alternatives that still deliver good results for many insole and footwear needs:

• Foam impressions: Traditional foot molds can be made while feet remain covered by a thin sock if the vendor accepts that method.
• Manual measurements: Length, width, arch height and shoe size taken by a trusted technician or at home with a printable template.
• 2D photography over thin socks: Some vendors can derive sufficient metrics from photos taken with thin, close-fitting socks.
• Consumer-friendly trials: Try off-the-shelf orthotics from reputable companies before opting for a custom scan-based product.

Special cases: children, medical necessity, and mixed households

Children: Even when parents consent, consider a child’s dignity. For minors, many families prefer same-sex technicians or parental presence. If the scan is for a pediatric medical need, document the clinical justification and minimize exposure.

Medical necessity: When a clinician documents that a scan is required for diagnosis or treatment, Islamic law’s allowance for necessity may apply. Still, insist on strict privacy controls and minimal disclosure — and be aware of recent healthcare data incidents that highlight disclosure risk.

Mixed households and cultural sensitivity: If a vendor’s staff can’t meet your modesty requirements, ask for remote or at-home options or choose a different provider.

When to involve community leaders or request a fatwa

For difficult or novel cases, consult a knowledgeable local scholar or community imam. Provide them with the vendor’s written policies, exactly what will be scanned, and the clinical or commercial justification. A contextual ruling (fatwa) can help families reconcile technology use with religious obligations.

Red flags and vendor claims to watch for

• Vague data policies: If they refuse to state where and how long scans are kept, that’s a red flag.
• Cloud-only processing: If everything goes to the cloud with no on-device option, demand stronger guarantees or walk away — edge-first and on-device alternatives reduce exposure.
• “We delete it, trust us”: Ask for a deletion certificate or written policy; relying on verbal assurances is risky.
• Overstated medical claims: If the insole or scan product claims to cure or prevent conditions without clinical evidence, seek medical advice.

Balancing benefit and caution: a practical family scenario

Scenario: Your teenager has persistent plantar pain and a podiatrist recommends bespoke insoles produced from a 3D scan. Here's a cautious, faith-aligned approach:

1. Ask the podiatrist if measurements can be used instead of a raw 3D file.
2. If a scan is truly necessary, request same-sex staff, a private room, parental presence, and on-device processing.
3. Obtain written consent focused on a narrow purpose and a deletion timeframe after manufacture.
4. Keep a record of the consent and the vendor's policies; follow up to ensure data deletion.

Privacy-preserving tech to look for in 2026

Thanks to advances through 2025 into 2026, these features signal a higher privacy standard:

• On-device processing: The app calculates required metrics locally; only anonymized measurements leave the device. See resources on on-device AI and API design.
• Federated learning: The vendor improves algorithms without collecting raw scans centrally — a pattern covered in discussions about training data and federated approaches.
• Differential privacy: The vendor publishes aggregate insights only, not individual meshes — part of broader privacy-forward AI trends.
• Zero-knowledge proofs or limited-use keys: The company can prove a product was made without exposing the underlying biometric file — an advanced cryptographic pattern increasingly discussed alongside edge privacy work.

Teaching children about modesty and digital safety

Make conversations simple and age-appropriate. Emphasize three points:

• We protect our bodies: Explain why we cover certain parts and who may see them.
• Digital records are permanent: Teach that photos and scans can persist — which is why we limit sharing.
• Ask for help: Encourage children to tell a trusted adult if they're uncomfortable with any tech or scan.

Short supplications and spiritual practices for families

Balancing trust in Allah and practical safeguards is a prophetic model: take steps to protect your family and make dua. A simple, sincere supplication you can make together:

Arabic (transliteration): Bismillahi tawakkaltu ʿala Allah — In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah.

English: “O Allah, grant us protection, dignity, and wisdom in the choices we make for our family.”

Final reflections: modesty isn’t an obstacle — it’s a filter

As families navigate the wellness tech landscape in 2026, modesty and privacy can serve as practical filters. They help you ask the right questions: Is this necessary? Can it be done with dignity? Will my family's data be respected? If a product cannot meet those standards, the safer, faith-aligned choice is often to decline or seek an alternative.

Actionable takeaways (quick summary)

• Treat digital scans like physical exposure: Assume permanence and handle accordingly.
• Demand privacy guarantees: Prefer on-device processing, same-sex technicians, and deletion rights.
• Insist on necessity: For non-essential services, ask for measurement-only alternatives.
• Teach children protective habits: Explain modesty and digital permanence in age-appropriate ways.
• Consult local scholars: For complex cases, get a contextual ruling combining fiqh and tech realities.

Call to action

If this topic resonates, download our free “Modesty & Tech Checklist” for families — a printable one-page form you can bring to clinics or vendors to ensure your dignity and data are protected. Join our community forum at bismillah.pro to share vendor experiences, vetted local recommendations, and practical dua resources for families navigating wellness tech.

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