Survivor Implores Technology Companies to Help Victims

In today’s technology-driven world, many people turn to their smartphones when they have questions. Even more specifically, people may be turning to their phone’s smart assistant, such as Siri or Cortana to aid in this search.  Earlier this month, the Journal of American Medical Association published a study about these conversational agents and their responses to mental health, interpersonal violence, and physical health.
 
Apple has changed Siri’s responses to rape and abuse to provide the hotline number and website of RAINN.   RAINN’s national hotline number links locally to Transitions.

There is still some work to be done, though.  Siri recognizes the word rape, but does not recognize phrases about not wanting to have sex, and someone having sex with you anyway.  As the survivor states in this article, many survivors struggle to name what happened to them as rape, or even abuse.

Siri also does not offer to call RAINN, like it does for other companies or resources.  It only provides the number.  There is currently an online petition started by Kelsey Bourgeois asking Apple to update Siri to recognize additional phrases and to offer to call RAINN’s hotline.  

While there has been some headway in getting Siri to recognize the words “rape” and “abuse” and, at least, provide RAINN’s hotline, there was no comment in the article about  Google Now, Samsung's S Voice, or Microsoft's Cortana.  As we continue to become more and more focused on our personal technology, it is important that this technology can recognize real life problems and refer users to real people who can help them.  I applaud Kelsey Bourgeois for creating this petition and for helping other victims!

Written by Katy K., Legal Advocacy Coordinator/Northumberland County Coordinator