Open Tech Calendar

How a new wave of innovators are trying to use tech to empower survivors of gender-based abuse.

Is technology a weapon, or a force for good?

An estimated 2.3 million adults aged 16 to 74 years experienced domestic abuse in the last year, according to the Office of National Statistics. Unfortunately technology has played a big part in that. In our highly connected world, abusers can use technology against victims to monitor, threaten, harass, and hurt them. Experts also say that the pandemic has likely made the problem worse.

But not all is bad! In the UK, a landmark law passed in 2020 has made it illegal to use technology to track or spy on partners or ex-partners. The law specifically defines this kind of online abuse as a form of domestic abuse.

Moreover, there are many organisations using tech to empower victims and help them out of their abusive relationships. We are seeing a wave of new technological innovations, including platforms and apps to address gender-based violence and and promote gender equality.

This online event will bring together 4 incredible speakers to discuss how tech can be used to help and empower victims, and highlight the work that still needs to be done to end gender-based-violence.

Our speakers for the evening are:

Naomi Naidoo, Chayn (chayn.co)

Naomi Alexander Naidoo is Movement Builder at Chayn, building Chayn’s movement fighting gender-based violence around the world. CHAYN is a global volunteer network addressing gender-based violence by creating intersectional survivor-led resources online.

Naomi will be speaking about Chayn's work supporting survivors through open-source, accessible technology. She'll talk about how Chayn has built innovative new digital service offerings to meet demand through lockdown, their work fighting tech abuse, and the importance of intersectional, trauma-informed, survivor-centric design.

Danny Hearn, The Dot Project (www.dotproject.coop)

Danny believes in the power of design to collectively understand problems to enable and co-create positive change. He draws on a variety of design methodologies to form a collaborative approach to problem-solving, innovation and cultural shifts. Danny brings a wealth of experience to DOT PROJECT leading on UX, design and digital strategy with over 18 years working for high profile brands as well as smaller startups, design agencies and charities. He has managed design teams, developed digital products and speaks at events on design leadership. He now applies his experience to create a positive social impact.

Tessa Cooper, Collaborative Future (www.collaborativefuture.co.uk)

Tessa leads Collaborative Future, a social enterprise actively advocating for a society where everyone is valued and empowered.

Tessa will share her personal story of experiencing gender-based sexual violence to demonstrate how, when done well, technology can serve as a tool for justice and healing, but that more often than not our technology mirrors and echoes our culture of violence, dominance and disempowerment. She'll share practical examples of how everyone striving to build new, more equitable systems or tools need to work on personally unravelling their social conditioning in order to not replicate the harm our existing systems inflict on people.

Alice Piterova, AI For Good (www.aiforgood.co.uk)

Data and AI have the potential to solve big societal problems. The challenge lies in identifying where to direct focus, to ensure that this powerful and yet very nascent technology is used to do good and actually drives lasting positive outcomes. Alice from AI for Good UK is going to talk about rAInbow, the friendly chatbot designed to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for all those at risk of abuse to get help and valid information on this very private and sensitive matter.