Brianna Wu Setting Up A Legal Defense Fund For Women Targeted By Gamergate

As a comment moderator, one sentiment I see frequently expressed is frustration that “no one is doing anything” about Gamergate. For the women who’ve been targeted by harassers, simply appearing in public or speaking to the media about their experience can be a revolutionary act; but as game developer Brianna Wu puts it, “fighting back is all these bullies understand.” Spreading awareness might change game culture in the long run, but that doesn’t mean the women being driven from their homes and out of their careers in the meantime shouldn’t have help from a higher authority now.

If you’ve been wondering where the repercussions are for harassers who have defamed the personal and professional character of female developers, revealed women’s personal details online, and threatened terrorist acts, you’re not alone. Finally, someone is “doing something” more. Brianna Wu posted this message on her blog earlier today:

 I am in the process of setting up a legal defense fund for women targeted by Gamergate.

One of the biggest ways Gamergate operates is character assassination. Well, we have laws protecting you against that. I’m not a lawyer, but the fund will pay lawyers to find cases on libel and defamation and prosecute them in civil court. These cases might be mine, or they might be other women targeted by Gamergate. It will be cases the legal team feels they can win.

Sadly, fighting back is all these bullies understand. I’m in the process of making sure the fund complies with our legal and tax structure. My suggestion to anyone in Gamergate is to think very carefully about saying something libelous or defamatory about the women you target.

For more information on the fund, follow Wu on Twitter or check out more of her blog. I can’t believe it has come to this, but at least we can take some solace in watching these bullies try to explain their “movement” in court. Lawyer up, you chucklefucks.

Reminder: The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy. We will delete/ban as we see fit.

Previously in #Lamergate

• Did you miss Anita Sarkeesian talking on Colbert?
• Adobe attempts to distance itself from Gamergate
• “Actually, its about ethics in games journalism” meme gets the respect it deserves

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Carolyn Cox