Digital harassment has been a growing concern, and one dating app is stepping up to support legislation that addresses this issue. Bumble, a leading dating app, has endorsed the CONSENT Act, a bipartisan federal bill focused on curbing cyberflashing.
Understanding Cyberflashing
Cyberflashing is the action of sending explicit images without the recipient’s consent. A survey conducted in 2021 in England and Wales revealed shocking statistics: 48% of adults aged 18-24 reported receiving an unsolicited, explicit photo.
python Copy code
#Survey Results adults_18_24 = 48
The CONSENT Act: Curbing Online Non-consensual Sexually Explicit Nudity Transfers
The CONSENT Act aims to provide legal recourse against those who engage in cyberflashing, whether the images are real or digitally altered. Bumble’s endorsement of the bill indicates the company’s commitment to prioritizing user safety and privacy.
“We believe in creating a safe online environment for our users, and we’re proud to support the CONSENT Act.” – Bumble Representative
Legal Recourse and Safeguards
The CONSENT Act goes beyond penalizing offenders. It also provides compensatory damages and privacy safeguards, especially for minors. It allows a legal guardian to bring a civil action on behalf of a minor and permits the minor to be referred to by their initials to maintain privacy.
Bumble’s Stance on Cyberflashing
Bumble has been an active advocate for making cyberflashing illegal in both the U.S. and the U.K.
Bumble’s Campaign in the U.S.
In the U.S., Bumble has supported laws in Texas, Virginia, and California aimed at curbing online sexual harassment. All of these laws have passed. Bumble has also introduced bills in Maryland, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C., further demonstrating their commitment to this cause.
Bumble’s Campaign in the U.K.
In the U.K., Bumble criticized the proposed Online Safety Bill, arguing that it didn’t go far enough to stop cyberflashing. Despite this, the bill passed and became the Online Safety Act. This act requires proof of harmful intent, which Bumble believes is a shortcoming.
The Impact of Bumble’s Features
Bumble has taken an active role in discouraging cyberflashing on its platform. In 2019, it introduced the “Private Detector,” a feature that alerts users when an unsolicited explicit photo is sent. They made this detector open source in 2022, making it accessible to other platforms as well.
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#Bumble's Private Detector def private_detector(image): #Algorithm to detect explicit images pass
A survey commissioned by Bumble in 2018 showed that 96% of women were unhappy receiving unsolicited explicit images. In the years since, it’s unlikely this sentiment has changed.
Looking Forward
The CONSENT Act is a vital step towards creating a safer digital space. With the support of companies like Bumble, there is hope that this legislation will pass and set a new standard in the fight against online sexual harassment.
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