Online Violence Against Women (OVAWG) is a critical and rising issue which we at PUBLIC are passionate about solving. In 2021, PUBLIC was tasked by the Home Office and Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) to deepen understanding in this area to facilitate effective interventions. Our role as a delivery partner was to identify the sources of OVAWG evidence, determine the key actors involved in perpetrating and enabling this form of violence, and explore potential technical solutions for combating it.
To address this challenge, we conducted a research discovery as part of the Online Safety Data Initiative. Our approach involved two primary components. In the desk research phase, we conducted a literature review, mapping key features, and creating a harm types working taxonomy. This phase involved the analysis of 100 text-based resources from government, academic, and civil society sources. Through this process, we mapped the prevalence and impact of OVAWG, identified key dynamics characterising how these harms occur, and categorised 18 harm types.
In the stakeholder research phase, we conducted in-depth interviews with 15 experts from civil society and academia. These interviews were designed to explore existing solutions, understand the challenges involved, and refine the harm taxonomy and definitions. The insights derived from both the desk and stakeholder research phases were used to identify key Safety by Design approaches and Safety Tech solutions to counter OVAWG effectively.
Our research generated several significant outcomes. It contributed to an enhanced understanding of OVAWG, providing valuable insights to inform evidence-based decision-making. Most crucially, we pinpointed challenges and opportunities for government intervention and presented strategic recommendations aimed at guiding both industry and government in addressing OVAWG. This research initiative had a tangible impact, leading to the establishment of a working group by the Home Office. This group’s purpose was to create a VAWG Code of Practice for online service providers, and this initiative was significantly informed by the research findings, marking a positive step forward in combating OVAWG.
Authors
Partnering with DCMS to operate the UK’s first Safety Tech Challenge Fund - a groundbreaking grant programme aimed at empowering safety tech innovation to enhance child online safety
Through extensive desk research, use case development and stakeholder engagement, we recommended four areas of focus for the EHRC’s Strategic Plan relating to AI and equality and human rights.
Developing recommendations grounded in leading industry insights to empower DSIT to support the SafetyTech sector’s growth effectively and navigate potential challenges
Empowering DSIT to assess the Online Safety Bill’s effectiveness with a flexible M&E framework informed by robust research
Researching accreditation approaches across the technology sector to develop recommendations for a tailored accreditation process for the online safety tech industry
Comprehensive research to equip Ofcom with a deep understanding of online content accessibility via search services, informing online safety guidance
Crafting a comprehensive Interactive Services (IS) Model to provide Ofcom with a common framework for understanding user journeys and platform workflows
Conducting a detailed analysis of the emerging SafetyTech sector to enable DCMS to make informed decisions and continue supporting the sector’s expansion
Mapping the current state of the Age Assurance market, identifying representative use cases, and key challenges to help DCMS gain a more in-depth understanding of a rapidly evolving technology sector
Researching the existing taxonomy, prevalence, legislative and regulatory landscape, and emerging trends related to Child Financial Harms
Developing a ‘minimum-viable product’ for a standards framework to assess online safety compliance solutions
Researched innovative design approaches that can support the safety of women and girls on online platforms and services.
Research, system-mapping and recommendations for Nominet's fund combatting illegal online harm.
Facilitating data access to catalyse innovation in the Safety Tech sector
