Soraya Chemaly of WMC Speech Project – how to effectively oppose to online abuse
By Milena
Rampoldi. We live in the age of internet. All is on the net, almost all areas
of our lives. And abuse is on the net. And abuse is something we have to
investigate and oppose to if we want to survive with dignity in the ocean of
modern communication. We talked about it to Soraya Chemaly of WMC Speech Project. We asked
her about the myths around online abuse and how to oppose to it, in particular
as women.
Rampoldi. We live in the age of internet. All is on the net, almost all areas
of our lives. And abuse is on the net. And abuse is something we have to
investigate and oppose to if we want to survive with dignity in the ocean of
modern communication. We talked about it to Soraya Chemaly of WMC Speech Project. We asked
her about the myths around online abuse and how to oppose to it, in particular
as women.
Milena
Rampoldi: What is online abuse exactly?
Rampoldi: What is online abuse exactly?
Soraya Chemaly: Online
abuse is a catchall phrase for a diversity of malicious tactics and behaviors
on the Internet and in mobile technologies. These range from sharing
embarrassing or cruel content about a person to impersonation, doxing (sharing
identifiable personal information), stalking and electronic surveillance to
nonconsensual use of photography, usually sexualized, and violent rape and
death threats. The online harassment of women, sometimes called Cybersexism or
cybermisogyny, is specifically gendered abuse targeted at women and girls
online. It is almost always intersectional, meaning that it incorporates
sexism, racism, religious prejudice, homophobia and transphobia.
abuse is a catchall phrase for a diversity of malicious tactics and behaviors
on the Internet and in mobile technologies. These range from sharing
embarrassing or cruel content about a person to impersonation, doxing (sharing
identifiable personal information), stalking and electronic surveillance to
nonconsensual use of photography, usually sexualized, and violent rape and
death threats. The online harassment of women, sometimes called Cybersexism or
cybermisogyny, is specifically gendered abuse targeted at women and girls
online. It is almost always intersectional, meaning that it incorporates
sexism, racism, religious prejudice, homophobia and transphobia.
Milena
Rampoldi: Which are the myths about online abuse?
Rampoldi: Which are the myths about online abuse?
Soraya Chemaly:
- That it is due to anonymity.
- That it is harmless or “bullying” – a term
that specifically refers to interactions between children. - That everyone is targeted in equal measure.
- That it is unsolvable.
- That it is “free speech.”
(These are addressed here
on the website for the Speech Project.)
on the website for the Speech Project.)
Milena
Rampoldi: Which are the most important forms of online harassment against
women?
Rampoldi: Which are the most important forms of online harassment against
women?
Soraya
Chemaly: I would not rank them necessarily. Each person targeted for harassment
and abuse encounters unique issues. I think it is important to stress,
however, that the abuse women face is more likely to be sustained,
cross-platform, sexualized and part of ongoing partner, acquaintance or
intimate partner violence – such as stalking or domestic abuse. We tend to
think of online harassment as name calling by strangers – but that is the type
most likely experienced by men.
Chemaly: I would not rank them necessarily. Each person targeted for harassment
and abuse encounters unique issues. I think it is important to stress,
however, that the abuse women face is more likely to be sustained,
cross-platform, sexualized and part of ongoing partner, acquaintance or
intimate partner violence – such as stalking or domestic abuse. We tend to
think of online harassment as name calling by strangers – but that is the type
most likely experienced by men.
Milena
Rampoldi: Why is informing so important about online abuse?
Rampoldi: Why is informing so important about online abuse?
Soraya
Chemaly: People do not tend to know how to respond to online harassment and it
can be devastating – to their abilty to work, go to school, move freely, be
emotionally and psychologically healthy. It is important to share information
about what constitutes harassment, what behaviors are illegal or contravene
platform terms of service, so that we understand the problem as a
socio-technical one that deserves attention.
Chemaly: People do not tend to know how to respond to online harassment and it
can be devastating – to their abilty to work, go to school, move freely, be
emotionally and psychologically healthy. It is important to share information
about what constitutes harassment, what behaviors are illegal or contravene
platform terms of service, so that we understand the problem as a
socio-technical one that deserves attention.
Milena
Rampoldi: On your website you publish tools and resources about online abuse.
Tell us about it
Rampoldi: On your website you publish tools and resources about online abuse.
Tell us about it
Soraya Chemaly: We launched this
project and website as a resource to people and media to raise public
awareness, share information and stories and create a new conversation around
these issues.
project and website as a resource to people and media to raise public
awareness, share information and stories and create a new conversation around
these issues.
Milena
Rampoldi: What have you reached until now and what would you like to achieve in
the next future?
Rampoldi: What have you reached until now and what would you like to achieve in
the next future?
Soraya Chemaly: During the past four
years we have built an international coalition of advocates for women’s freedom
of expression and free speech who are working at the nexus of anti-violence and
technology. We need, in the near future, to continue to raise public
awareness, pressure tech companies to address these issues, and make clearly
the connections between violence against women and the lack of diversity – all
kinds – in tech, the law and governance.
years we have built an international coalition of advocates for women’s freedom
of expression and free speech who are working at the nexus of anti-violence and
technology. We need, in the near future, to continue to raise public
awareness, pressure tech companies to address these issues, and make clearly
the connections between violence against women and the lack of diversity – all
kinds – in tech, the law and governance.
