Blockchain-Based App 'Smashboard' Aims To Help Sexual Assault Victims, Especially In India

According to a survey conducted in the few past years, the number of unreported sexual violence cases soared to over 99% while only the remaining 1% went reported to the police. To remind, those cases can take several years before a victim gets ready to share such a woeful story. The catch behind this silence contains a myriad of reasons and prejudices they have to face from the conservative society and even themselves. Internal psychological barriers, victim-shaming social factors, the feeling of embarrassment and the likes of these have killed them inside. Due to that, an app that aims to help those people has been rolled out.

To address the problem, the Indian journalist Noopur Tiwari has come up with an idea of making Smashboard. With the help of technology, Tiwari expects this app to help the victims as much as possible. In detail, Smashboard comes packed with Ethereum Blockchain to privatize as well as encrypt users’ messaging. While Smashboard is available around the clock, victims can have a much safer online space with the help of pseudo-anonymity.

In the meantime, blockchain will generate timestamps of sexual assault events with help from victims. As a matter of fact, police and judicial authorities could have more information and evidence regarding criminal activities and how to help victims come forward. Along with that, the app also suggests a number of mental health practitioners and legal supports. Thankfully, most of the said features are based on Tiwari’s experiences of helping sexual assault victims.

Smashboard is now available in English, French, and Spanish. Once it gets expanded, many non-English victims in India will be able to access the app and no longer have to suffer the psychological silently.