More Women Report Tech Sector Abuses After 'Predator List' Exposure

Eleven more women have reported experiencing sexual assault within the tech industry, coming forward after The Post revealed the existence of a spreadsheet circulating in Silicon Valley that named over 100 individuals accused of predatory behavior. These women have expressed a desire to share their accounts and be added to such lists, seeking to warn others and hold alleged perpetrators accountable.

A Silicon Valley insider described a network of powerful men in the tech world who allegedly act as power brokers, engage in sexual abuse, and protect each other. "I do really see this as an Epstein-like network, where there’s a lot of abusers who basically work with each other... But we’re actually just at this point looking at the tip of the iceberg," the insider told The Post.

One accuser reported that a man she accused allegedly hacked her phone and used her confidential information against her. Another woman, a former private banker, stated that after reporting a sexual assault by a colleague at a bank in Singapore, she was fired and her case was dismissed without an opportunity to present new evidence. She claims the colleague faced no consequences and that she has since been unable to find employment.

Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto, a non-profit organization that previously provided a platform for survivors to anonymously connect with others who may have had the same attackers, emphasized the need for women to share information about potential perpetrators. "Women are trying to find a way to protect themselves. Who’s trying to stop the men?" DeTomasi asked. "Because we can only protect ourselves so much. We need a solution that really changes companies’ approaches to getting rid of toxic, abusive offenders. And that’s not happening right now."

Callisto, which launched in 2018, stopped accepting new users in July. Approximately 4,000 survivors had created accounts on the platform. DeTomasi noted the lack of funding for organizations addressing sexual assault, stating, "There’s no money in sexual assault. There really just isn’t. So many rape crisis centers are going away. So many victim advocacy organizations have had significant funding cuts."

An insider suggested that some predators leverage the mentoring culture in the Bay Area's gay community, turning professional relationships into coercive ones. "There are people who come in and start using this transactionally, start handing out money or opportunity... And then suddenly it starts to change into a power relationship."

The creators of the original Silicon Valley list chose to remain anonymous, citing concerns over privacy and the risk of their information being hacked. The article notes that various versions of such lists have emerged in the Bay Area over time, but their potential for disseminating unverified allegations requires careful management.

In 2017, a similar list called "Shitty Media Men," focused on men in journalism and publishing, was created. Its creator, Moira Donegan, eventually took it down after about 12 hours. One man named on that list, author Stephen Elliott, sued Donegan for defamation, and the case was settled in 2023 with a six-figure payment.

David S. Lee, Deputy Director of VALOR, a coalition of California's rape crisis centers, highlighted the limited resources available for preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors in the state. "We do not see the level of commitment necessary to properly support survivors and address the high rates of violence," he said. Bay Area Women Against Rape in Oakland, one of the oldest rape crisis centers in the nation, closed last year after 54 years of operation.

One tech worker, speaking anonymously, called for a new movement akin to #MeToo specifically for the tech community. Survivors in California seeking assistance can find local rape crisis centers through the Get Help map on valor.us.