Bill Overview
Title: Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act
Description: This bill establishes a pilot program for the Office on Violence Against Women to award grants to reduce domestic violence that occurs using any form of technology.
Sponsors: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Target Audience
Population: victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking vulnerable to technology-facilitated abuse
Estimated Size: 40000000
- The bill aims to reduce domestic violence that occurs using technology, suggesting its target population is victims of technology-facilitated abuse.
- Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or location.
- Technology-facilitated abuse involves the misuse of technology to control, intimidate, or harass, which is increasingly common globally given widespread internet and smartphone use.
- The bill emphasizes aiding victims of gender-based violence such as domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Reasoning
- Victims of technology-facilitated abuse come from all walks of life and may not always report the abuse due to stigma, lack of resources, or fear of retaliation.
- The policy targets a specific form of abuse which may be increasing with the broader adoption of technology and social media.
- Interviews will include diverse participants based on geography, gender, occupation, and other demographics to capture a wide range of experiences.
- Since the policy budget is limited, the impact might be more pronounced in certain high-prevalence areas or demographics that are often overlooked or underserved in government programs.
- Considering commonness in the population, people less susceptible to technology-facilitated abuse (e.g., older demographics less engaged with technology) might have a lower impact.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could provide resources that are desperately needed.
- I'm worried about whether the funding is enough to reach everyone who needs help.
- I'd appreciate more information on how to safely use technology without fear.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
IT Consultant (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Awareness and resources would help victims recognize signs of tech abuse.
- I'm glad this type of abuse is being recognized by policymakers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative could significantly improve campus safety.
- There's a need for educational workshops on digital safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 1 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 1 |
Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding is a welcome relief, but needs to be well-managed to create impact.
- Training programs for teachers could be beneficial too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Since I'm not directly affected, the policy doesn't change much for me.
- However, awareness programs for younger generations are crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could provide much-needed support in terms of resources and training.
- The success of this policy heavily depends on public awareness and education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Freelance Writer (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Education on digital privacy is essential and currently lacking.
- I'm worried about how effective a pilot program can be with a finite budget.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Police Officer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased training and resources could improve how we handle cases.
- Funds should ensure training for law enforcement is focused and effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Business Owner (Denver, CO)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy could bring peace of mind if it results in practical assistance for digital safety.
- More information on tech abuse prevention would be useful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retail Worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 20 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies centered around tech safety are essential today.
- Access to mental health support should complement efforts to curb tech abuse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $41000000, High: $61000000)
Year 3: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Technology-facilitated abuse is a growing concern with the increased usage of digital communication tools.
- Pilot programs require careful monitoring and evaluation to assess effectiveness before scaling.
- Coordination with existing state and local resources is critical for success.
- Long-term success may increase safety and reduce repeated instances of abuse, requiring fewer resources from local law enforcement and social services.