New ‘App Safety Center’ Helps Victims and their Advocates Navigate Smartphone Apps

The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is excited to announce our newest online resource, the App Safety Center. The App Safety Center provides tips, information, and resources for the safe development and use of smartphone apps addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, harassment, and stalking.

Mobile platforms offer new and innovative ways to raise awareness and provide survivors and advocates with important tools. Over the past few years, several apps been developed to assist survivors, educate communities, and connect victim service providers to needed resources. Despite the significant potential to dramatically increase awareness and make information more accessible to survivors, many concerns must be thought through when developing and using apps created for victims of violence and their advocates. Some of these concerns include safety and privacy, since abusers are often misusing technology as a tactic of abuse, harassment, and harm.

“We are so grateful for the support from Verizon that allowed us to launch this critical initiative,” said Cindy Southworth, NNEDV Executive Vice President. “The App Safety Center will give survivors the tools and information they need to make informed decisions about their safe use of smartphone technology.”

The App Safety Center has four main sections:

• Apps for Survivors

• Apps for Public Awareness and Education

• Apps for Victim Service Providers

• Considerations for App Developers

The section on Apps for Survivors reviews several categories of apps, including those used to assess safety and abuse, personal safety apps (including apps specifically for teens and college students), and other tools for survivors.

To create this desperately-needed resource, the Safety Net team at NNEDV reviewed and tested more than 40 apps. The App Safety Center will continue to grow as Safety Net adds more information and reviews new apps as they are introduced. If you have any feedback or know of any updates or new apps, please share them with us by contacting the Safety Net Team. 

Technology Summit 2015 Agenda & Events

We're so excited to welcome attendees to our 3rd Annual Technology Summit next week in San Francisco! If you're joining us, we can't wait to meet you! If you're not joining us, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see what we're up to. Take a look at the program book to see what's going on.

This year, we have much to discuss in the world of technology, privacy, and survivor safety. 
Earlier this year, in Elonis v. the United States, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Anthony Elonis, who posted threats (which he called rap lyrics) against his ex-wife on Facebook. Elonis had been convicted under the standard that a “reasonable person” would have viewed the posts as real threats. However, the Court said that something more is required, without specifying exactly what, so it is unclear how that decision will impact future cases involving online threats.

Despite our disappointment with that decision, the issue of sharing or distributing intimate images without consent (aka “revenge porn”) has seen a lot of movement. In fact, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and Google have updated their policies to include banning non-consensual pornography on their sites. Currently, a federal bill addressing this issue is being discussed and debated.

For victim service programs, selecting effective technologies to support their services, using technology to reach survivors, and finding ways to hold offenders accountable for their crimes continue to be core topics. Privacy, security, safety, and survivor empowerment are part and parcel of those issues, making these very complex discussions.

We hope that by the end of the Summit, we will all leave with more tools and ideas as well as more questions and thoughts about what we can do to help survivors find safety and healing while working toward a world where violence against all people no longer exists.

If you're not able to join us, follow along on social media (#techsummit15 and #TS15QA)!

10 Steps to a More Secure Password

Today is World Password Day, and a reminder that you should change your password. Passwords are used for almost everything we do these days because, without a password, anyone can get into all your stuff: your phone, email, bank account, social media, etc. 

Here are some tips on how to create a secure password:

1. Pick a password that will be hard for someone else to guess.

2. Use different passwords for different accounts.

3. Best passwords are longer than 8 characters and contain numbers and symbols.

4. Keep your passwords simple, so you can remember it. 

5. Share your password with no one. 

6. Use 2-step verification/authentication (where you use your password as well as a code that's sent to your phone or email). 

7. Uncheck the “remember me” or “keep me logged in” feature. 

8. Always remember to log off. 

9. Change your password often (today, for instance, on World Password Day!).

10. Be strategic with secret questions and answers.

For more explanation on these tips, check out our handout on Password: Simple Ways to Increase Your Security.