IEEE P7016
What is this standard?
P2987 is a recommended practice aimed at designers and operators of technology to minimize the possibility of it being used in cases of interpersonal coercive control, such as domestic abuse.
Why is it important?
It is an uncomfortable truth for designers and operators of technology that it is increasingly being used by perpetrators of interpersonal coercive-control, for example in cases such as domestic abuse. Moreover, this use of technology does not typically involve hacking in the traditional sense; rather it entails the misuse of often well-intentioned standard features, the design of which usually did not include threat analysis of, for instance, an abusive domestic partner who has access to passwords or manages the device/application in question.
Examples include tracking of partners and their children, manipulation of social media while gaslighting to cover what is happening, and utilising smart-home devices to secretly monitor movement.
What is a real-world example/case study of how this might help?
Numerous studies and reports have shown that the use of technology in coercive-control has escalated from somewhere around 25% to over 90% over the last 5 years.
What stage is it at?
We are currently just entering the drafting phase, and are looking to ensure we cover all angles of this complicated area.
What is the current geographical or disciplinary spread of your working members?
The working group consists of members from the USA and Europe, with a mix of technology practitioners, support groups, and focused activist groups.
What type of people might be interested or well suited for this standards group?
There are no specific technical requirements needed by those who wish to participate. We are seeking the widest set of opinions, including a broader spread of geographical representation, from those who are passionate to improve this area so that we can challenge each other to ensure the contents of the standard are well rounded. This is particularly important in this context since initial ideas can often have unintended consequences.
What triggered your own interest in this area?
My interest came out of some initial work we did at IBM, which itself started by being shown the ability to remotely control the lights, heating and music of one’s house. It got us thinking about how someone in the house might react if they didn’t realise that such remote control was taking place, and how they could be gaslit into believing they were doubting their senses.
Call to Action
You are invited to join us! If you would like to participate, please get in touch and email me at [email protected] or contact the IEEE Standards Association Program Manager, Christy Bahn, [email protected] to indicate your interest. You can also read more about the working group at https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2987/10620/.