{"id":207985,"date":"2021-03-22T15:18:43","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T12:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them\/"},"modified":"2021-03-22T15:18:43","modified_gmt":"2021-03-22T12:18:43","slug":"consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them\/","title":{"rendered":"#Consent apps don\u2019t stop sexual violence, so stop trying to make them"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a394007b44b1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a394007b44b1\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them\/#How_apps_are_being_used_to_address_sexual_abuse\" >How apps are being used to address sexual abuse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them\/#How_digital_apps_fail_to_address_sexual_violence\" >How digital apps fail to address sexual violence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them\/#Apps_dont_change_the_bigger_picture\" >Apps don\u2019t change the bigger picture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them\/#Who_owns_the_data\" >Who owns the data?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them\/#Why_we_need_to_take_this_%E2%80%98bad_idea_seriously\" >Why we need to take this \u2018bad idea\u2019 seriously<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#Consent <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>s don\u2019t stop sexual violence, so stop trying to make them<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n                                Yesterday, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2021-03-18\/nsw-sexual-consent-app-proposed-by-mick-fuller\/100015782\">suggested<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> should be part of the solution to growing concerns around sexual assault. He encouraged serious discussion about using a digital app to record positive sexual consent.<\/p>\n<p>In our research, we have studied a wide range of mobile applications and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots used in attempts to counter sexual violence over the past decade. We found these apps have many limitations and unexpected consequences.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_apps_are_being_used_to_address_sexual_abuse\"><\/span>How apps are being used to address sexual abuse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apps aimed at responding to sexual harassment and assault have circulated for at least a decade. With support from government initiatives, such as the Obama administration\u2019s 2011 <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/obamawhitehouse.archives.gov\/blog\/2011\/11\/01\/announcing-winners-apps-against-abuse-technology-challenge\">Apps Against Abuse<\/a> challenge, and global organisations, such as UN Women, they have been implemented in corporate environments, universities and mental health services.<\/p>\n<p>These apps are not limited to documenting consent. Many are designed to offer emergency assistance, information and a means for survivors of sexual violence to report and build evidence against perpetrators. Proponents often <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usaid.gov\/results-data\/success-stories\/empowering-victims-gender-based-violence-click-click\">frame<\/a> these technologies as empowering tools that support women through the accessible and anonymous processing of data.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of the proposed consent app, critics have noted that efforts to time-stamp consent <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/snappyalligator\/status\/1372288108767539200\">fail to recognize<\/a> consent can always be withdrawn. In addition, a person may consent out of pressure, fear of repercussions or intoxication.<\/p>\n<p>If a person does indicate consent at some point but circumstances change, the record could be used to discredit their claims.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is *not* how consent works \u2013 it&#8217;s an ongoing process  &amp; can be withdrawn, renegotiated etc. Not to mention the perp could force someone to sign the app, or do it for them.<\/p>\n<p>Sounds like the NSW police commissioner could do with some consent education.<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jCV7lpLcfN\">https:\/\/t.co\/jCV7lpLcfN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dr Bianca Fileborn (@snappyalligator) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/snappyalligator\/status\/1372288108767539200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 17, 2021<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_digital_apps_fail_to_address_sexual_violence\"><\/span>How digital apps fail to address sexual violence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The use of apps will not address many longstanding problems with common responses to sexual violence. Research indicates safety apps often <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/1369118X.2017.1309444\">reinforce rape myths<\/a>, such as the idea that sexual assault is most often perpetrated by strangers. In reality, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/rape-myths-like-stranger-danger-challenged-by-global-drug-survey-116110\">the vast majority<\/a> of rapes are committed by people the victims already know.<\/p>\n<p>Usually marketed to women, these apps collect data from users through surveillance using persistent cookies and geolocational tracking. Even \u201canonymized\u201d data can often be identifiable.<\/p>\n<p>Digital tools can also enable violence. Abusive partners can use them for <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/0964663915624273\">cyberstalking<\/a>, giving them constant access to victims. Apps designed to encourage survivors to report violence raise similar concerns, because they fail to address the power imbalances that lead to authorities discrediting survivors\u2019 accounts of violence.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apps_dont_change_the_bigger_picture\"><\/span>Apps don\u2019t change the bigger picture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The introduction of an app does not itself change the wider landscape in which sexual violence cases are handled.<\/p>\n<p>The high-profile sex abuse scandal involving <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/01\/25\/sports\/larry-nassar-gymnastics-abuse.html\">Larry Nassar<\/a>, a former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor convicted of a range of sex offences after being accused by more than 350 young women and girls, led to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uscenterforsafesport.org\/about\/our-work\/\">reforms<\/a> that included the SafeSport app.<\/p>\n<p>This resulted in 1,800 reports of sexual misconduct or abuse within a year of the app\u2019s introduction. However, a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/olympics\/2018\/12\/28\/shellie-pfohl-safesports-ceo-stepping-down\/2438229002\/\">lack of funding<\/a> meant the reports could not be properly investigated, undermining organisational promises to enforce sanctions for sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>Read more: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/anti-rape-devices-may-have-their-uses-but-they-dont-address-the-ultimate-problem-123011\">Anti-rape devices may have their uses, but they don\u2019t address the ultimate problem<\/a><br \/><\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Poor implementation and cost-saving measures compromise users\u2019 safety. In Canada and the United States, the hospitality industry is rolling out smart panic buttons to 1.2 million hotel and casino staff. This is a response to widespread sexual violence: a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.handsoffpantson.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/HandsOffReportWeb.pdf\">union survey<\/a> found 58% of employees had been sexually harassed by a guest and 65% of casino workers experienced unwanted touching.<\/p>\n<p>Employers are now required by law to provide panic buttons, but they are turning to cheap and inferior devices, raising <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/90458034\/security-flaws-threaten-panic-buttons-meant-to-protect-hotel-workers\">security concerns<\/a>. Legislation does not prevent them using these devices to monitor the movements of their employees.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_owns_the_data\"><\/span>Who owns the data?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Even if implemented as intended, apps raise questions about data protection. They collect vast amounts of sensitive data, which is stored on digital databases and cloud servers that are <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenewhumanitarian.org\/investigation\/2020\/01\/29\/united-nations-cyber-attack\">vulnerable to cyberattacks<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>Read more:\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/the-ugly-truth-tech-companies-are-tracking-and-misusing-our-data-and-theres-little-we-can-do-127444\">The ugly truth: tech companies are tracking and misusing our data, and there\u2019s little we can do<\/a><br \/><\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>The data may be owned by private companies who can sell it on to other organisations, allowing authorities to circumvent privacy laws. Last month, it was revealed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/technology\/2021\/02\/26\/ice-private-utility-data\/\">purchased access<\/a> to the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/legal.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/products\/clear-investigation-software\">Reuters CLEAR database<\/a> containing information about 400 million people whose data they could not legally collect on their own.<\/p>\n<p>In short, apps don\u2019t protect victims or their data.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_we_need_to_take_this_%E2%80%98bad_idea_seriously\"><\/span>Why we need to take this \u2018bad idea\u2019 seriously<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fuller, the NSW police commissioner, admitted his recommendation might be a bad idea. His idea was built on the premise that the important issue to address is making sure consent is clearly communicated. It misunderstands the nature of sexual violence, which is grounded in unequal power relations.<\/p>\n<p>In practice, a consent app would be unlikely to protect victims. Research shows <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/1362480616684194\">data collected<\/a> through new forms of investigation often result in evidence that is used against victims\u2019 wishes.<\/p>\n<p>There are other reasons why the consent app is a bad idea. It perpetuates <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/canadas-covid-alert-app-is-a-case-of-tech-driven-bad-policy-design-144448\">misguided assumptions<\/a> about technology\u2019s ability to \u201cfix\u201d societal harms. Consent, violence and accountability are not data problems. These complex issues require strong cultural and structural responses, not simply quantifiable and time-stamped data.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" class=\" lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/157415\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><em>This article by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/kathryn-henne-13115\">Kathryn Henne<\/a>, Professor and Director, School of Regulation and Global Governance, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/australian-national-university-877\">Australian National University<\/a>; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/jenna-imad-harb-1164663\">Jenna Imad Harb<\/a>, PhD Scholar, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/australian-national-university-877\">Australian National University<\/a>, and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/renee-m-shelby-1219124\">Renee M. Shelby<\/a>, Postdoctoral fellow, Sexualities Project, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/northwestern-university-1259\">Northwestern University<\/a>,\u00a0is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/apps-against-sexual-violence-have-been-tried-before-they-dont-work-157415\">original article<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><i>Did you know we have a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>letter all about consumer tech? It\u2019s called Plugged In \u2013<br \/>\n            <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.hsforms.com\/1tNyJLC_3RjuVWih9ygK_6A47gef\">and you can subscribe to it right here<\/a>.<br \/>\n            <\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-post-pubDate\">\n                                    Published March 22, 2021 \u2014 12:18 UTC\n                                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script data-src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;appId=378011798897423&amp;version=v2.6\" id=\"socialSrcFacebook\" type=\"text\/template\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2021\/03\/22\/consent-apps-dont-stop-sexual-violence-so-stop-trying-to-make-them-syndication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Consent apps don\u2019t stop sexual violence, so stop trying to make them&#8221; Yesterday, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller suggested technology should be part of the solution to growing concerns around sexual assault. He encouraged serious discussion about using a digital app to record positive sexual consent. In our research, we have studied a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":207986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/plugged?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/Consent-apps-hed.jpg&signature=f064ad8a728a0a426e3b50b6cf83a0e3","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-207985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=207985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/207986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=207985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=207985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}