Intel, Vox Media, Re/code…and Lady Gaga?
The partnership may sounds strange at first, but not when you consider the cause: online harassment. The pop diva’s Born This Way Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering and promoting youth wellness, will be working with the tech and media players on a new initiative called Hack Harrassment.
Announced on Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the campaign aims to fight online harassment and provide safer, more inclusive online experiences.
“Online harassment is pervasive and can be vicious,” said Intel (INTC) CEO Brian Krzanich in a statement. “If we’re to truly succeed in a smart and connected world, we need to remember that behind every device, game, sensor or network is a real person with real feelings and real needs for safety. No one company can address this issue alone—as an industry, we need to work together to create a safer, more inclusive online experience.”
Harassment has been a pervasive issue in the tech industry, notably for for female gamers. Last October, SXSW canceled a pair of gaming and online harassment panels due to threats of violence, a year after the infamous Gamergate culture war first began.
But threats aren’t limited to women in gaming; nearly 40% of adult Internet users said they’ve faced physical threats, cyber-bullying and sexual harassment, according to a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Cente r.