By Matt Hazenbush, Director of Communications and Member Engagement 

Policymakers are increasingly confronting the consequences of technology-facilitated harm — from cyberstalking and targeted harassment to online exploitation and coercive misuse of digital tools. These harms disproportionately affect individuals whose circumstances make them more exposed to digital risk, and they present complex challenges that cut across technology, law, and public safety.

The Computing Community Consortium’s recent report, Supporting At-Risk Users Through Responsible Computing, offers a research-driven foundation for addressing these issues. While the report primarily outlines research priorities for the academic community, it also contains insights directly relevant to federal agencies, regulators, and lawmakers seeking to strengthen national policy responses.

A Systems-Level View of Technology-Facilitated Harm

One of the report’s key findings is that technology-facilitated harm rarely stems from a single system failure. Instead, these harms emerge from interactions among digital platforms, data infrastructures, organizational practices, and social environments.

For policymakers, this means that effective responses require:

• Cross-sector coordination among technology companies, civil society groups, law enforcement, and research institutions.
• Evidence-based risk assessment tools that can inform regulatory frameworks and enforcement strategies.
• Clearer mechanisms for translating academic research into policy-relevant guidance.

The report highlights the need for structured pathways to connect research evidence with policy decisions — an area where federal leadership can accelerate progress.

Informing Policy Through Better Research Infrastructure

The report identifies several structural gaps that hinder the development of robust, actionable research. Addressing these gaps would directly strengthen the evidence base available to policymakers.

Key areas for federal attention include:

• Sustainable research infrastructure. Many researchers lack the tools and training to safely study high-risk digital environments or to engage with individuals affected by technology misuse.
• Risk assessment frameworks. The report calls for clearer, standardized approaches to evaluating potential unintended consequences of digital systems — frameworks that could inform regulatory guidance and technology safety standards.
• Support for interdisciplinary collaboration. Technology-facilitated harm requires expertise from computing, human behavior, privacy, cybersecurity, and public policy. Federal programs that support interdisciplinary work can bridge these domains more effectively.

Opportunities for Federal Agencies and Lawmakers

The report’s recommendations point toward several concrete policy opportunities:

1. Expand Federal Support for Research on Technology-Facilitated Harm

Grant programs could encourage collaborative work across computing, social science, and public interest organizations, ensuring evidence reflects real-world contexts.

2. Encourage Adoption of Risk and Harm Assessment Requirements

Federal funding guidelines, review criteria, or regulatory frameworks could require explicit analysis of potential harms, including misuse scenarios and secondary impacts.

3. Strengthen Research-to-Policy Translation Channels

Mechanisms such as technical briefings, advisory panels, and structured Requests for Information can help federal agencies incorporate current research insights into policy development.

4. Increase Access to Safe Research Environments

Similar to existing secure data enclaves, agencies could support the creation of protected digital research environments where sensitive topics can be studied with appropriate safeguards.

5. Support Capacity Building for the Workforce

Training programs and micro-credential initiatives described in the report could help expand the pool of researchers and practitioners able to tackle these complex problems responsibly.

Why This Matters Now

Digital safety concerns continue to evolve with emerging technologies. Tools like generative AI, ubiquitous location data, and integrated sensor platforms can both empower and endanger users depending on how they are deployed. Federal policy will be most effective when grounded in sustained research that understands how these technologies interact with human vulnerability and real-world contexts.

The CCC Supporting at Risk Users Workshop report provides a roadmap for developing that research foundation — and a starting point for policymakers seeking evidence-based strategies to reduce technology-facilitated harm.

Access the Report

Policymakers, congressional staff, and agency partners can find the full report and supporting materials on the CCC website:

Download Supporting At-Risk Users Through Responsible Computing