Jacob Appelbaum’s response to accusations by the Tor community
In cases like this where it is word against word, I think it is important as an outsider to hedge your bet. Act as if the allegations are true and false at the same time.<p>Assuming they are true: make sure to create a safe space (virtually, in real live, and in discourse) for potential victims. Don&#x27;t put the accused person on sensitive community functions. Take (this and further) accusations very seriously. If someone doesn&#x27;t want to deal with him, don&#x27;t push the matter and don&#x27;t ask why. You want to avoid retraumatization of potential victims, and you want to create a climate where affected people can feel safe. You should give people raising these accusations the benefit of doubt, and resist the urge to dig for proof or to argue about what actually happened or not. Especially given how hard it is for victims to get recognition and justice by going through the &quot;official&quot; channels, i.e. court. (This is basically the idea that is discussed as &quot;power of definition&quot; among feminists in Germany; I&#x27;m not sure how it&#x27;s referred to in other countries, a quick search didn&#x27;t come up with much.)<p>Assuming they are false: It&#x27;s rarer than most people think that accusations of sexual abuse are falsely raised, but it is still a possibility. Especially given that he is a exposed public figure and possible target for &quot;character assassination&quot;. Any scenario could be possible, from personal revenge to a smear campaign by an intelligence agency. One should protect oneself from this possibility, whether it is real or not. Don&#x27;t exclude him from your communities. Don&#x27;t stop using his software, don&#x27;t judge or punish him. Don&#x27;t give him the punishment of shunning.<p>Basically you have to do an impossible balancing act. You don&#x27;t want to perpetuate this patriarchal shit that lets men often get away with sexualized violence. But you also don&#x27;t want whoever might be <i>abusing</i> this claim (agencies, personal enemies, ...) to win. So the only sane course is to be all about protection of victims, providing a safe space etc., but not punishing anybody.