Jenna Sherman, a campaign director at the advocacy group UltraViolet, said, “Opt-out models are not consent.” She argued that warning sounds can be missed in places such as parties, concerts and children’s playrooms, leaving bystanders to monitor devices they don’t own.
“Opt-out models are not consent,” Jenna Sherman, a campaign director for the advocacy group UltraViolet, which focuses on the impacts of consumer tech on gendered and sexual violence, told The Verge. “Being given the option to opt out rather than choosing actively to opt in are very different. One requires a person to be informed and to be enthusiastically and intentionally choosing something, and the other is passive and doesn’t actually place any power into the consumer’s hand. This decision is being made by the companies, and the consumer is being forced to adapt to that decision, and the default model is that you will be subjected to that surveillance.”
Sherman notes that companies are likely well aware of the fact that many people will find it difficult or impossible to truly opt out when always-listening and always-watching devices become ubiquitous. “Not everyone sees the recording light, not everyone hears whatever warning sound is playing on a watch, especially if you’re at a party or a concert, or if you’re a parent at a children’s playroom,” said Sherman.
Women’s advocacy group Ultraviolet is applauding Spotify’s new policy banning hate content and hateful conduct that has brought with it high profile removals of R. Kelly and XXXTentacion from curated playlists, but in an open letter published Monday (May 14) is also asking for more.
As well as R. Kelly and XXXTentacion, the letter written by Ultraviolet executive director Shaunna Thomas requests that Spotify take action against other artists who have been accused of sexual misconduct, including Chris Brown, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Eminem and others.
“Google is complicit in luring vulnerable, pregnant women to anti-abortion centers posing as legitimate reproductive health clinics that deceive, lie to, and shame them out of abortions,” Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, said in a press release. “Users trust Google to be an honest broker here. The company must take action immediately to uphold its advertising policy and ensure abortion care search results are accurate.”
Karin Roland, chief campaigns officer for UltraViolet, said her organization has been in talks with Google for four years trying to get ads for what she calls “fake clinics” removed from Google search results and Google Maps.
“Women are seeking medical information, and Google is sending them to clinics that not only don’t actually provide what they claim to — but are actively trying to trick and mislead women,” Roland said.
The ruling to push forward with Zervos’ case “is an important victory,” Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of UltraViolet, an organization fighting sexism, said in a statement.
“More than 20 women have accused Donald Trump of sexual assault and harassment. Just as he has tried to do with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, Trump has tried to threaten and silence these women,” Chaudhary stated. “As we have seen over the last few weeks, these women will no longer be silent and that should scare the daylights out of Donald Trump.”
UltraViolet, a leading national women’s group, held a candlelit vigil and light projection outside of Visa headquarters in Foster City Thursday demanding the company to refuse sales from retailers who sell assault weapons.
“Protecting children from sexual abuse must be a top priority for everyone in this country, and this bill is an important first step. We support this bill and are glad it is now law,” said Nita Chaudhary, cofounder of UltraViolet, a national women’s rights organization.
“But watching Donald Trump…be the one to sign this legislation into law is deeply disturbing. Trump has abused, insulted, assaulted, and harassed women throughout his entire life. In the last week alone, Trump repeatedly supported and sympathized with abusers over the survivors of abuse, and all amid reports that he feels the #MeToo movement is bad for businesses. The idea that he can sit in the White House and pretend to be a champion for the abused is absurd.”
“DONALD TRUMP HARASSED OR ASSAULTED TWENTY WOMEN. CONGRESS: INVESTIGATE TRUMP. #SOTU”
That’s the message that women’s group Ultra Violet projected onto the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., tonight ahead of President Trump’s first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. UltraViolet describes itself as “a 1,000,000 strong community that leverages high-profile media moments to hold decision makers accountable, create a cost for sexism, and shine a light on the people and policies that are improving all women’s lives.” And boy, did they take advantage of tonight’s high-profile moment.
A women’s rights group used the occasion of Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address to bring renewed attention to allegations of sexual assault against the president.
UltraViolet, an organization aimed at fighting sexism in politics, media and pop culture, projected a message onto Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening, just hours before the president was scheduled to deliver his remarks.
Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of the women’s advocacy group UltraViolet, called on the board of the casino company to fire Wynn and for the Republican National Committee to remove him as finance chair.
“Steve Wynn needs to go,” Chaudhary said in a statement. “He is a predator of the worst kind who used his position of power to sexually coerce his female employees.”
Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of the women’s advocacy group UltraViolet, agreed, saying that allegations of domestic abuse against Puzder disqualified him from serving in the administration. She added that “only a person with a history like Donald Trump could fail to see this.”
We’re launching a nationwide effort to hold the powerful people connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s network of abuse accountable. From rapid-response campaigns to high-visibility public actions, we’re making sure the 1,000+ survivors’ calls for justice are heard — not ignored. Give today to help keep the pressure on.