Embedding Accountability in Technology

In this RxT, we addressed violence and collective safety on technology platforms featuring inspiring change agent and survivor champion, Alison Turkos.

Alison is working to hold both technology platforms and government agencies accountable for safety and is suing both Lyft and the NYPD following her 2017 sexual assault by a Lyft driver. At the time of lawsuit filing, Lyft had been sued by 26 passengers for sexual assault but Alison’s lawsuit marked the first filed with a survivor’s real name on the record, rather being listed as Jane Doe.

Technology platforms are increasingly replacing public infrastructure and facilitating participation in daily life, yet the gaps for mechanisms and systems to keep us safe are staggering. These safety and accountability gaps exist across the technology ecosystem.

There is a way technology can be used to hold space for the collective and a responsibility for technologists to do this responsibly. We will be discussing the role technologists can play in designing for solidarity and collective safety.

Alison is a champion for collective safety, accountability systems and building a future that is safe for all of us. She is advancing new legislation, public policies and most importantly, she believes better is possible.