Model and Strategy
Callisto’s mission is to use technology to empower survivors of sexual violence. Each year 2.5 million students are raped or sexually assaulted on college campuses. Over 90% of campus sexual assaults are committed by repeat offenders. However, most survivors don't report. So Callisto built a system meant to empower survivors of sexual assault, rebuild their sense of agency, prioritize privacy, and facilitate coordinated and informed action.
Callisto Vault was launched in 2021 as the first and only application that uses cryptography to provide a confidential alternative to a whisper network. Callisto Vault comprises two tools: the Matching System and Encrypted Record Form.
- The Matching System allows a survivor to enter the unique identifiers (for example, social media handles) of the perpetrator. If another survivor enters the same unique identifier, a “match” occurs. If there is a match, matched survivors are connected with a Legal Options Counselor, a third-party, pro-bono attorney who will explain their options.: advancing a framework and deepening the practices of healing justice that centers wholeness, intergenerational wisdom, repair, and liberation.
- The Encrypted Record Formallows a survivor to create a detailed and timestamped record of their sexual assault as they decide what steps, if any, they might like to take next. Using this tool can assist survivors in processing through trauma and can serve as a reference should they choose to report, now or in the future.
Impact
Callisto’s ultimate goals are to 1) empower survivors on their path toward healing and justice; and, 2) reduce the amount of sexual assault that's happening on college campuses.
In the words, of Callisto CEO Tracy DeTomasi, “The one thing that I can say, after 20 years of doing this work, is that every survivor I've ever talked to has said ‘I feel alone,’ and the power that comes from not feeling like they're alone is incredible.” With Callisto Vault, survivors will be able to better process their trauma, have better mental and physical health outcomes, and increase graduation rates for survivors - currently 34.1% of survivors drop out of college.
With widespread use, the Callisto Vault Matching System could become a deterrent for offenders by creating accountability in a system that today has very little. Currently, only 20% of female students report sexual assault to the police and less than 5% of offenders are arrested. Currently on 40 campuses, about 15% of Callisto Vault entries are matched with at least one other survivor and over 50% of those matches choose to coordinate action.
These early figures are promising, but it’s important to point out that confidentiality and protecting data against hacking is a real challenge. Callisto is currently working with UC Berkeley on a data discovery program to determine what impact metrics can be drawn out of Callisto Vault safely and securely. They are also exploring more anonymous surveys through the Callisto Vault system to survey survivors who have matched over the long term, to track the impacts post-match and how they have used the Encrypted Record Form.
Leadership
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Tracy DeTomasi
CEO