REFINERY29 – Aug 29 – On Sep 1, House Bill 2789, which criminalizes the sending of unsolicited sexual photos via text, DM, AirDrop, email, social media, and dating apps in the state of Texas (where dating app Bumble is based), will become law, in large part due Bumble CEO's efforts.
Q: As the founder and CEO of Bumble, why was it important for you to get involved in the passing of this bill?
Whitney Wolfe Herd: When unwanted sexual photos are sent through Bumble, we ban those users right away, but that's not enough. I hated that there was no real accountability outside of our app. So about a year ago, my team and I started working with lobbyists and passionate state representatives. We wanted to make unsolicited lewd photos illegal.
Q: What responsibility do dating apps and users have to protect against digital sexual harassment?
A: We're calling our peers – social networks, messaging apps, and Internet companies of all kinds – to raise their standards. You can still drive massive profit and be a good business model while pushing the needle on safety and privacy for users. And if you're on the receiving end of an unsolicited lewd photo on any platform: report it.
Q: With the new law, what remains to be done?
A: Bumble will continue to fight for new laws that not only protect our users, but the digital space as a whole. We're committed to creating a kinder, safer internet.
by Anabel Pasarow
See full article at Refinery29