More than half of domestic violence victims are ignored by social media companies if they dare to report abuse by their current or former partner. According to a survey by the British organization Refuge , 53 percent of those affected received no response from site operators after they marked attacks on their portals. Two out of five victims feel abandoned and would therefore no longer report such cases.
Online abuse: “Homework not done”
“The threats, persecution and harassment that my ex-boyfriend made on social media made me fear for my life,” Regufe quotes from the descriptions of one victim. “I even had to move because he published my home address and threatened to hurt me every day,” says the person affected.
Nevertheless, it took six attempts before Facebook finally responded to the incidents. “During this, my life was turned upside down. I was disappointed. They admitted that these posts violated their community standards. It still took Facebook four months to delete them,” said the criticism.
“For far too long, social media companies have not done their homework when it comes to online abuse. This has terrible consequences for those affected.”
Jess Eagleton, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Refuge
Many women received no response at all to their terrible attacks.
“These companies need to be held accountable. “You need a strong set of rules to be able to counteract violence against women and girls on the Internet.”
Jess Eagleton, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Refuge
258 percent more attacks
According to the report, the need for help and support in the event of online abuse, i.e. that occurs using technical means, has recently skyrocketed dramatically. The Refuge support team in question registered and processed 258 percent more attacks in 2022 than in 2018. Among other things, an increasing number of abuses were recorded in which perpetrators used modern technologies such as smart door locks, web cameras or intelligent heating systems to monitor, control or otherwise harass their victims.
Source:
Press release
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