Facebook puts more security in frame for women fearing abuse
SCROLL through an Indian person’s friends list, and you’ll see many people using images of sunsets, flowers or Bollywood stars as their profile pictures. The reason, Facebook says, is that many Indian users, especially women, are deeply concerned about safety online.
Now, the social media giant is piloting a new tool to help secure uploaded images, measures that could soon be rolled out to other countries.
Facebook’s new profile picture guard will make it more difficult for others to download your images, prevent unknown users from tagging themselves in your profile photo, and even attempt to prevent people taking images of your profile. A blue border around pictures and a shield sign will signal that safety measures are on.
The tool is aimed specifically at Indian women, who are especially vulnerable to abuse online. Many prominent female Indian actors, journalists and public figures have reported receiving rape threats or have their images misused.
In a statement launching the new tool, Facebook product manager Aarti Soman wrote: “Profile pictures are an important part of building community on Facebook because they help people find friends and create meaningful connections. But not everyone feels safe adding a profile picture.
“In our research with people and safety organisations in India, we’ve heard that some women choose not to share profile pictures that include their faces anywhere on the internet because they’re concerned about what may happen to their photos.”
Paradoxically, India’s craze for taking selfies has reached dangerous heights. Last year, the country had more selfie-related deaths than anywhere else in the world. Users are willing to take risks, such as standing in front of an oncoming train, for flattering photos. But sharing those pictures online? Too risky, Indians think.
Amy Binns, a senior lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, said there were a number of reasons for people not posting images of themselves, including not wanting to be judged by appearance. But many have real qualms about online safety, she said. “There have long been cases of celebrities’ faces being photoshopped onto pornographic pictures, and as this technology becomes more common and easier to use, this has become more common for ordinary people,” Binns said. – The Washington Post