Namibia desert (IMAGE) Penn State Caption Although mobile phone data are increasingly used in public health management, a new study led by researchers at Penn State reveals that phone data underrepresents vulnerable populations and that failing to account for biases in phone data could magnify health inequities. The research team studied a mobile, rural population in Namibia, pictured here, where access to health care is limited, as a case study to measure how well mobile phone data represent populations. Credit Bharti Lab/Penn State Usage Restrictions Credit must be given to the creator. License CC BY Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.