As part of Schillings’ pro bono programme, we have been supporting Glitch, a charity that works to make online spaces safe for all by raising awareness of online abuse and its impact especially on women and those with intersectional identities. We have been proud to provide pro bono advice on legal, data protection, and cybersecurity considerations.
In 2020 Glitch and the End The Violence Coalition released a landmark report assessing the impact of Covid-19 on online abuse: ‘The Ripple Effect: Covid-19 and the Epidemic of Online Abuse.’ The report represents the largest dataset to date on the gendered impact of Covid-19 online in the UK. Astonishingly, of those surveyed, almost 1 in 2 (46%) women and non-binary people reported experiencing online abuse since the beginning of COVID-19.
Lily Kennett, a leading investigator and reputation expert who spearheads Schillings’ pro bono programme, is acknowledged in the Report, along with her team, for providing pro bono advice on the survey, in particular in relation to data protection and cybersecurity. Following the report’s publication, Lily has been proud to join Glitch as a Trustee and is pleased to work alongside the Glitch team supporting their ongoing work countering online abuse and promoting digital citizenship.
Online abuse impacts us all and degrades an important space for communication and civic participation. In addition to its advocacy and awareness work, Glitch is pleased to offer practical tips for handling online abuse, including:
1. Firstly, if you feel the communication you are receiving online is threatening, abusive or offensive, then please contact the Police on 101. You should also report it on the social media platform you are using.
2. If you’ve had an image that has been shared on Facebook without your consent, you can report it HERE. Facebook will remove the photo or video and prevent further sharing on Facebook, Messenger or Instagram. More info HERE.
3. If you’re interested in a Glitch training workshop, please fill out this form HERE.
You can sign up for Glitch’s newsletter HERE.
About Schillings Pro Bono
Schillings’ purpose is to protect and defend the fundamental human right to be free from unfair attacks on privacy, reputation and security. While our work often sets precedents that benefit the wider public, we also take on pro bono work where we can make a significant impact on the rights of vulnerable people.