Social media floods with 'Jane Doe' posts supporting Cornell rape lawsuit plaintiff

Thousands of individuals are posting "I am Jane Doe" across social media platforms in solidarity with a young woman using the pseudonym in a lawsuit accusing Cornell University and seven fraternity members of rape. The wave of support began after journalists at the university's student newspaper reported on the lawsuit's filing.

Many of the posts include personal accounts of sexual abuse and assault. The surge of "I am Jane Doe" messages aims to offer the plaintiff protection in the digital age by confusing algorithms and making it more difficult for individuals seeking to identify her real name online. Posts vary in format, including videos, photos, and text, appearing on numerous social media sites.

The current outcry echoes the energy of the #MeToo movement, which gained prominence a decade ago when women shared their experiences of sexual harassment and assault. Emma Davidson Tribbs, founding director of the National Women’s Defense League, noted that such movements encourage more women to speak up and share their truths, acting as catalysts for change.

Wendy Lea Brewer, a singer who has spoken about her own experiences with sexual abuse, felt inspired to post reels on Instagram with captions like "I am Jane Doe" and "It's time to speak." She described feeling like she was "screaming into the void" before hearing about the Cornell case and finding a sense of community among other "Jane Doe" posters.

The use of pseudonyms like Jane Doe in legal proceedings has become more common in recent decades, according to Diana Simon, a professor of law at the University of Arizona. While the legal system generally favors transparency, Simon explained that anonymity can be crucial in sensitive or private cases where it serves the plaintiff's best interest. However, she cautioned that a person's identity can still be revealed through investigative efforts.

Kelsey Combe, a photographer, created an "I am Jane Doe" post with the intention of providing a form of online protection for the Cornell plaintiff. By generating numerous similar posts, Combe hoped to make it harder to definitively identify the real plaintiff if her name were to be revealed. "It was to confuse the AI models and stand in solidarity with her," Combe stated.

Combe experienced an unexpected consequence when artificial intelligence incorrectly linked her to the lawsuit, identifying her as the plaintiff. After successfully having the AI-generated information removed, Combe encountered public criticism, with some individuals suggesting she should have anticipated such outcomes given her participation. This experience, she noted, highlighted the broader systemic issues at play beyond individual cases.

"It’s standing in solidarity with her, but it’s also acknowledging that to an extent we are Jane Doe, I think the majority of us, because … we have our own experiences with sexual assault," Combe added. "So we are all Jane Doe until nobody is."