“Women's Initiatives” provided expert commentary to TSV for a report on victims of revenge porn. A scandal involving online blackmail and the leak of intimate photos recently rocked Chisinau. But the problem is much broader, and the issue is so sensitive that victims of digital violence are far more afraid to seek help than, for example, victims of physical violence. It all comes down to the fear that society will blame the victim (victim-blaming), while the perpetrator will get off scot-free.
Digital threats are often endured in silence due to feelings of shame or an underestimation of the situation’s severity. Our goal is a healthy digital environment—both in terms of safety and, importantly, ethics. We believe that raising awareness of the problem is the first step toward solving it.