In 2019, the number of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) cases received by AWARE’s Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) was 140, out of a total of 777 cases. This number has tripled since 2016, reflecting the upwards trend of TFSV cases on a national and global scale.

TFSV is a type of sexual violence enabled by digital communications technology, such as social media and messaging platforms, digital cameras and dating and ride-hailing apps. These behaviors range from unwanted, explicit sexual messages and calls, to the creation, obtainment and/or distribution of sexual images or videos without consent.

We’ve all heard of TFSV cases, or know someone in our lives who has experienced TFSV. Local examples include the non-consensual distribution of images on the now-infamous SG Nasi Lemak Telegram group. Internationally, adult website Pornhub has recently come under increasing fire for hosting videos of child abuse, rape and “revenge porn”, with Mastercard and Visa prohibiting payments on the website.

Of course, we should not have to rely on major credit card companies to lead the charge against TFSV. So what can we do?

In 2019, the Singapore government announced the setting up of a new court to simplify court process and streamline procedures for victims of online bullying and harassment. This is a step in the right direction, but how should law enforcement and technology legislation keep up with the rapidly changing manifestations of TFSV? How can legislation address the global nature of TFSV, where websites and social media platforms use online servers located across jurisdictions?

How can parents educate themselves and support tech-savvy children to deal with TFSV? Most importantly, what measures should we turn to to obtain justice for survivors of TFSV?

Join AWARE for this panel, where we’ll discuss all of the above and more.

Speakers:

• Catherine Chang and Holly Apsley are researchers at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities. They are currently working on a study of abusive online behaviours in Singapore. As grantees of the AWARE Taking Ctrl, Finding Alt contest, they are developing a resource site for people experiencing online abuse in Singapore.
• Lee Yi Ting works at the intersection of gender justice and digital rights. She performs a range of functions, from research and writing to training organisations in feminist holistic and digital security. As a grantee of the AWARE Taking Ctrl, Finding Alt contest, she is conducting research on image-based sexual abuse.
• Tan Joo Hymn is the programme director of AWARE’s parents’ sex-ed programme, Birds & Bees. She is also a trainer, lawyer and an early childhood educator.

This event is supported by the High Commission of Canada.

Register here.