Exploring technology safety in the context of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and violence against women.
Managed by the Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), this blog explores the intersection between technology, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and violence against women.
Safety Net focuses on the intersection of technology and abuse, and we work to address how that abuse impacts the safety, privacy, accessibility, and civil rights of survivors. Our team provides expert training and technical assistance, creates and disseminates resources, and influences conversations on technology abuse and safety globally. Safety Net is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
October is an important month for Safety Net, a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). That’s because it has TWO themes related to our work!
Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
National cybersecurity MOnth Logo
The month of October is often honored as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but we also acknowledge Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Read more to learn about why cybersecurity is important for survivors of intimate partner violence and how we can create a safe online space, free from violence for all.
In addition to being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this month is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month. When we think about cybersecurity, we often think of security from identity theft, fraud, phishing, or hackers who steal passwords and information. But cyber – or online – security has a broader meaning for victims of domestic and sexual violence and stalking. Cybersecurity also means personal safety – safety from harm, harassment, and abuse while online.
For many survivors, being online can feel unsafe because the abuser or stalker is accessing their online accounts to monitor their activities; posting harmful and negative things about them, including sexually explicit images and personally identifying information; or using cyberspace to harass and make violent threats under the cover of “anonymity.” Abusers and stalkers often compromise the security of survivors’ technologies by installing monitoring software on cell phones or computers or forcing them to reveal passwords to online accounts.
In a study conducted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, victim service providers report that of the survivors they work with 75% have abusers who access their online accounts, 65% have abusers who monitor their online activities, and 68% have had their pictures posted online by the abuser without their consent. In a survey by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, when abusers and stalkers distribute sexually explicit images of victims, 59% includes the full name of the victim, 49% include social media information, and 20% include the phone numbers of the victim. Online harassment, in the context of abuse and stalking, can have serious and dangerous consequences.
So this month, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month coincides, let’s think about cybersecurity and safety beyond safely making an online purchase but how we can create an environment where all can be personally safe from violence while online. How do we create a safe online space that doesn’t tolerate abuse? How do we support those who are victimized online, whether their ex is making threats via social networks, or someone is distributing sexually explicit images of them online, or they’re being threatened by a group of strangers online simply because they have an opinion about gender and dare to be in a male-dominated space? And how do we hold accountable those who are threatening, abusing, and harassing victims online?
This month—and all months—help us figure out the answers to these important questions. Comment below if you have thoughts or ideas.
Managed by the Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), this blog explores the intersection of technology and privacy and intimate partner violence, sexual assault and violence against women.
Click here if you are worried about someone else knowing that you visited this website.
This privacy policy explains the information/data we collect from you when you visit this website, how we share or use that information, and your rights.
