From WIRED · Ej Dickson · · 3m
Sexual Assault Is a Free Speech Issue
Mary Anne Franks explains how sexual assault silences women and why free speech debates often ignore this reality.
In brief
Mary Anne Franks explains how sexual assault silences women and why free speech debates often ignore this reality. Sexual assault is a free speech issue that silences women, and allowing it to happen with impunity means society doesn't care about women's voices. Originally reported by WIRED.
Jane Doe's Identity Doxing
Right-wing groups and troll accounts have tried to publicly identify Jane Doe, a Cornell student who accused seven Chi Phi fraternity members of sexual assault in 2024.
Mary Anne Franks' Background
Franks is a professor at George Washington University Law School specializing in civil rights, free speech, and technology, and leads the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative.
Free Speech Disembodies Safety
Franks says cultural fetishization of free speech disembodies conversations, making physical safety oppositional to this supreme value.
Sexual Assault as Free Speech Issue
Franks argues sexual abuse silences people, and allowing it to happen with impunity means society doesn't care about women's voices.
Evolution of Terms
The term 'revenge porn' was used by perpetrators but is now replaced with 'nonconsensual pornography' to emphasize lack of consent in sexual expression.
Cornell Fraternity Case
A Cornell student filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging seven Chi Phi fraternity members raped her over seven hours in their frat house.
Snapchat Doxing
One of the accused posted an explicit photograph of Jane Doe to his frat Snapchat group, announcing she was upstairs and available.
Snapchat's Role
Snapchat encouraged girls to send nude photos with the confidence they would disappear, creating a gamified environment for nonconsensual sexual activity.
Cornell's History
Cornell University has a history of ignoring sexual assault, including an email list from 1995 that included '75 Reasons Why Women Shouldn't Have Free Speech.'
First Amendment Questions
Private universities are not bound by the First Amendment, so Cornell's punishment of students for sexual assault jokes is not a free speech violation.
Free Speech Warping
Elon Musk's promotion of free speech has been used by right-wing groups to justify doxing and sexual violence without accountability.
Doxing Consequences
Doxing Jane Doe has led to harassment of innocent people who were mistakenly associated with the accused fraternity members.
Burnerverse
The burnerverse is a community of college sports fan accounts that have made doxing young women a recreational sport.
Maddie Kowalski Case
A 20-year-old girl named Maddie Kowalski had a nonconsensual intimate video circulated at the University of Florida, leading to harassment.
Social Media Impact
Social media has created a culture where men treat women as lower on the hierarchy, leading to increased sexual violence and dehumanization.
Self-Defense Advice
Franks recommends physical self-defense training for women to protect against sexual assault and to reinforce that 'no' is a complete sentence.
The big picture
Sexual assault is a free speech issue that silences women, and allowing it to happen with impunity means society doesn't care about women's voices.
