The reach of technology is astonishingly broad. It’s awesome how it brings us all closer, but when it’s not handled well, it can cause some serious problems too.
From monitoring phone conversations to tracking someone’s every move through GPS, access to emails, texts, and even altering messages in transit, technology can be quite invasive.
Moreover, technology can go as far as activating webcams on personal devices or turning on cell phone mics without the user knowing. The scale at which all this data is collected and sorted is massive.
Organizations that are Combating Technology-Facilitated Abuse
Taking a stand against the dark side of tech, these organizations are warriors fighting to stop technology from being used as a tool for abuse.
1) Commonwealth Bank of Australia
CommBank is stepping up globally to tackle technology-related abuse by offering its advanced AI and machine learning tools for free to banks worldwide. This move comes as part of their commitment to combating technology-driven abuse, especially following research that reveals 1 in 4 Australian adults have faced financial abuse from their partners.
Their tech wizards developed these tools after noticing some customers using transaction descriptions to intimidate or harass others. With this smart system, CommBank can sift through transactions, spotting any unusual activity and flagging potential risks. This helps the bank investigate and take necessary actions in those cases.
This model is pretty sharp—it spots around 1,500 risky cases every year. It’s a solid step towards making banking safer and more secure for everyone.
2) Ditch the Label
Ever stumbled upon something really mean online that you think should be taken down? Or maybe you reported something on a social network but got no response?
A UK-based anti-bullying charity, Ditch the Label, works globally, providing support to young people affected by cyberbullying, offering online mentors, and conducting research to understand and prevent online abuse.
They have a team of trained mentors who work closely with senior moderation teams across leading social networks. You can report content to them from major platforms such as: TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Google, and Snapchat. Chat with them, and they can zap the nastiest stuff off the internet within 48 hours.
3) Without My Consent
Originally starting in 2011 as its own non-profit, Without My Consent aimed to fight against online privacy intrusions. Now, it’s a part of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, still keeping that same mission alive and strong.
This organization offers resources and legal support to individuals dealing with online privacy violations, including cyber exploitation and harassment. empowers victims of egregious online privacy violations to lead the fight against online harassment.
Technology-Facilitated Abuse in the Workplace
Technology has totally changed the way we work, right? It’s made things faster. Communication’s a breeze but it’s also given access to workplace abuse and harassment too. As an organization focused on fostering positive workplaces, our commitment remains resolute in advocating for workplaces that prioritize psychological safety and well-being.
Organizations need to make sure their online spaces are inclusive and safe. HR and leadership are essential to enforcing policies and promoting a culture of respect and accountability, and to help with that, we specialize in assisting organizations dealing with cultures of harassment, discrimination and bullying build up their employee engagement, performance management, management effectiveness, and more.
We are passionate about reducing the pain we know thousands of people feel each and every day they are at work. Our genuine care for employee well-being drives our efforts to create healthier, safer work environments. Curious to know more? Check out our FAQs to learn about what we do.
Written by: Jennifer Areola
