Dr. Phil-Backed Domestic Violence App Aspire News Exposed Data About Users
Editor's Note
If you’ve experienced domestic violence, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline online by selecting “chat now” or calling 1-800-799-7233.
What happened: Aspire News, a covert app for reporting domestic violence, breached data security and exposed sensitive user data. The app, which is backed by Dr. Phil and his wife Robin McGraw, is designed to look like a regular news app. However, it includes functionality to alert loved ones when someone is experiencing domestic violence along with other resources.
The app’s security issue was first reported by TechCrunch and discovered by security researchers Noam Rotem and Ran Locar. Rotem and Locar tested the Aspire News app and found that users could easily access recordings and personally identifiable data of other users by a simple manipulation of a URL link they receive when using the app. Exposed recordings dated back to 2017, and the database has now been pulled offline.
This is one of the most sensitive security lapses I've seen in a while because it can identify victims of domestic violence, which can put them in direct danger.
More: https://t.co/h48Rom4a6j pic.twitter.com/kwpP8YQjSI
— Zack Whittaker (@zackwhittaker) June 25, 2020
The Frontlines: Aspire News was launched in 2013 by the McGraw’s foundation When Georgia Smiled to help domestic abuse victims more safely report instances of abuse. Since its launch, Aspire News had over 300,000 downloads and over 4,000 voice recordings that users can send to trusted contacts to alert them when they’re in danger.
- It’s estimated that over 10 million people in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence and this number is expected to grow.
- 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence.
- The majority of domestic abuse cases go unreported due to fear and it’s often difficult or even dangerous for victims to leave their abuser
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A Mighty Voice: Our contributor, Jenny Cokely, shared the abuse she experienced as a child and the impact this has had on her confidence and well-being as an adult. “Growing up, I had no voice of my own, no words I could use to express the depths of my sadness and fear, and no way to scream for safety. Words were weapons in my home — threats of harm for telling the truth, for having the desire to be a child, for being seen.” You can submit your first person story, too.
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Other things to know: COVID-19 has increased concerns about domestic violence as stay-at-home orders keep people at home. To read more on the topic and the impact COVID-19 has on domestic violence, check out these Mighty articles.
- What to Do If You’re Stuck With an Abusive Person During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Why We Need to Check In With Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Melissa Benoist’s Video About Domestic Violence Shows How Strong She Really Is
Where to get help: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you’re not alone. You can call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and get help 24/7. You can also join our Mighty community to give and get support from others who have been there.
Header image screen shot via Dr. Phil/YouTube
Natasha Serafimovska is a writer and co-founder of consultancy firm LaserCue (lasercue.co.uk). She has worked in youth activism, education and IT before bringing her interests together in her writing. She writes on many topics for different outlets and clients, but she’s particularly interested in personal development and growth. She’s based in lovely Edinburgh where all it takes to find inspiration for stories is leave the house.
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