Tackling tech-facilitated abuse must be a central plank of plans to address VAWG
If compliance with the forthcoming Ofcom VAWG guidance proves low, we’d like the government to consider more enforceable methods of improving platforms’ responses to online VAWG;
Mandatory training for police officers, including frontline/first responders, on identifying, investigating, and gathering evidence for tech-facilitated abuse;
National police data should be collected on tech abuse. Forces previously estimated ‘that on average 10% of VAWG offences occur online’ which the NPCC said is likely to be an underestimate;
Increased funding for specialist services responding to online VAWG;
We support Glitch’s campaign to:
Ringfence 10% of the money collected from Big Tech via the Digital Services Tax to fund work across civil society to tackle online abuse – including VAWG services
Use 10% of any fines levied on tech platforms by Ofcom under the OSA to fund specialist VAWG support services. Fifty percent of this amount should be specifically ringfenced for specialist ‘by and for’ led services supporting Black and minoritised women and girls.
