Digital Safety and Privacy Risks in Intimate Partner Violence Disclosures: Platform Governance and Survivor Protection

Author

Susan Page


Abstract

 The increasing integration of social media into everyday communication has transformed how individuals disclose experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), seek assistance, and access support networks. Although digital platforms provide opportunities for survivor empowerment, public awareness, and community engagement, they also introduce significant safety, privacy, and ethical challenges. This study examines digital safety and privacy risks associated with IPV disclosures, emphasizing platform governance mechanisms and survivor protection strategies. It explores how unauthorized information sharing, digital surveillance, cyberstalking, identity exposure, algorithmic amplification, and technology-facilitated abuse can intensify survivor vulnerability. Particular attention is given to privacy controls, content moderation policies, reporting mechanisms, data governance practices, and institutional accountability in managing sensitive disclosures. The study further considers how gender inequalities, cultural contexts, digital literacy, and unequal access to protective technologies influence disclosure experiences and safety outcomes. By integrating survivor-centered perspectives with digital governance principles, the research proposes a conceptual framework for strengthening platform responsibility, trauma-informed moderation, confidential reporting, and accessible safety interventions. Ultimately, it contributes to understanding how digital environments can support safer disclosures while protecting survivor autonomy, dignity, and fundamental privacy rights.


Keywords

Intimate Partner Violence; Digital Safety; Privacy Risks; Social Media Disclosure; Platform Governance; Survivor Protection.



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References


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