A Story about Online Harassment in the Gaming Industry
Episode description
This week Maria & Elena talk about Pam, a game developer whose life was turned upside down by a coordinated online harassment campaign. We start from Pam's humble beginnings, the creation of her groundbreaking game about mental health, and then talk about the intense wave of online abuse that followed false accusations from an ex-partner.
While the story in this episode is based on real events to respect the privacy and safety of those directly affected, some names, dates, and other details have been altered. The aim is not to sensationalize or retraumatize those who experienced these events but to shed light on systemic issues.
Here are some excellent online resources to help protect yourself from online harassment and provide guidance on what to do if you are targeted
- Crash Override Network (Archive): Though no longer active, their resources are still helpful for addressing harassment and securing your online presence.
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative: Focused on combating online abuse, especially non-consensual pornography.
- Digital Safety Resources by PEN America: Offers comprehensive guides for writers and creators but applies to anyone facing online abuse.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) - Security Self-Defense
- Social Media Safety: Each platform offers tools for privacy, reporting abuse, and controlling visibility:
- CyberSafety Helpline for Cyprus: 1480
more episodes at https://breaking20.eu/