SafeBlaze is a community-led auditing system, serving as an accessible tool prioritizing user privacy and safety to facilitate positive experiences in digital spaces.
SafeBlaze is designed to empower TGNC users with easy access to information about the websites they visit, helping them avoid or prepare for potential triggers and unsafe spaces. The goal is to ensure that TGNC individuals are not navigating digital spaces blindly, but rather, equipped to navigate safely by clearing the path ahead and marking any hazardous digital terrain.
Safeblaze.info is accompanied by the free browser extension to display evaluation data of the sites you navigate.
What I hope to address:
- Facilitate safe and informed online interactions
- There is a lack of tools for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals to identify safe and unsafe spaces
- Community involvement is the most effective way of maintaining a safe digital space
- Platforms need to be held publicly accountable for their impact as an incentive to design and maintain safe spaces
Features:
In depth evaluations on platform policies and gender inclusive-interfaces. The evaluations provide insight into the inclusivity of interfaces on the platforms, along with more nuanced information and insight provided by contributors. For example, a user may be curious about signing up for LinkedIn but wants to know if they can use their chosen name rather than their legal name for their account. At the click of a button the user would see that “LinkedIn allows users to change how their name is displayed on their profile.” (source). However, the contributor note added by a user states that from personal experience, to enable account recovery in the event of being locked out the user’s name on their government ID has to match the name on the account. This policy is not made clear by LinkedIn, only through word of mouth would the community be aware of it.
Community members will be encouraged to contribute their unique experiences of platform environments, as research indicates that user experiences often diverge from platform policies and assurances. Some of the information provided in the tool is sourced solely from what is made publicly available by each platform, leaving the burden on users to find alternative information. For example, research revealed discrepancies between Meta’s stated policies against anti-Trans harassment and real-life instances where these policies were not upheld. Anonymous first hand accounts of experiences will be displayed alongside the information sourced from each platform.
The TGNC community faces unique challenges simply through existing authentically in online spaces. While maintaining an open community space is crucial for accessibility, it also presents a vulnerability to potential harassment from ill-intentioned individuals. Therefore, appropriate gatekeeping measures need to be taken to prevent trolling and malicious or fake engagement.
To use the web extension or visit the home website, users are not required to input any personally identifying information. However, when a user wants to upload a review or experience of a website or platform, they would be required to create an account. It’s important that in this case they are not required to provide any identifying information such as an email address. The goal is to be transparent about any data collected and how it is used. Since no personal information is collected, each entry must be verified by a human to ensure authenticity before being posted publicly. While prioritizing safety and privacy, the hope is to create a welcoming space for all community members and those with genuine intentions to learn.