5 years, 10 months ago

When I reported my rape, the police asked for my Facebook login. Why should I be under more scrutiny than my attacker?

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Since joining Facebook at the age of 17, I’ve used the network to send messages of a sexual nature to boyfriends, discuss one-night stands in great detail with housemates, and joke about very minor petty crimes I may or may not have committed with friends. But considering I didn’t even have a Facebook account at the time of my rape, I couldn’t see what purpose my social media data could serve other than to cast doubt about my credibility among jury members. The police warned me that even if the case did go to court, it was unlikely that my rapist’s convictions would be disclosed due to the risk of prejudicing the trial. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The suggestion that I should hand over my social media data made me feel like I was under investigation – and yet I wasn’t afforded the privilege of a lawyer like my rapist was.

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