With the future app Redderr, you can alert bystanders if you feel unsafe. The Two Young Developers Are Praised, But Like Experts, They See Some Snags. “But the app is coming anyway.”
The initiative follows The Death of Seventeen-Year-old Lisa. She was recently killed in Duivendrecht While Cycling from Amsterdam to Her Home in Abcoude. Her Death Led to the initiative ‘We demand the night’, in which Women Demand Attention for Their Safety on the Street. There are also protests through the country.
For Thomas Gerrits (25), IT was an incentive to share his his app redderr on Instagram. Mitchell Mooij (28), Who Like Gerrits is an ICT Professional, had Been Carrying a Similar Idea For Years and Saw It Pass by. “Not a minute later I was on the line: we will work together.”
The idea of the app is simple: you can send a message with the push of a button if you feel unsafe. Your location will be shared. App users within a certain distance Will then Receive a notification and can come to help. That way you are no longer Dependent on the Police’s Response Time, is the idea.
Never Alert Just One Person
Despite the Good Intentions, experts Mainly See Problems. Jasper van der Kemp, criminologist at the Free University, Says the app Raises “A Lot Of Questions”. “There is something similar in England, but that works with acquaintances,” he says. In Addition, the says there is a risk of vigilantism or violence.
Jossian Zoutendijk, criminologist at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, also sees a risk of oversealous citizen participation. “It can always overshoot. A police officer is trained to act within the confines of the law.”
Zoutendijk MENTIONS AS AN Example Citizen Patrols That Can Respond To The Project. The refers to the independent border controls in Early June, in which Citizens stopped Cars at the Border with Germany. Those people were not aved by the police. “Citizen Patrols Are Not Necessarily Bad, But There Are Examples Of People Being Tied Up With Tie Wraps.”
‘There should not be more unsafe situations’
Gerrits and Mooij are aware that the app can also bring malicious people to their feet. Duration the registration process, for example, they want to ask for proof of identity or references. They are also investigating Whether they can request a certificate of good conduct (VOG). “We must not build something with good intentions that creates more unsafe situations.”
In Addition, The Plan is to Send a Notification to Several People, “So That is never one who may have malicious intentions”. There is also a maximum of about five people, so that a place is not flooded with people who want to help.
In The Event of Misuse of Redderr, Someone Will Be Blocked Or Removed, AltheHeH Thesis Conditions Are Not Yet Set In Stone. Van der Kemp sees a danger here. “If it goes wrong, that’s one time too many.”
The criminologist also Questions the Idea That Citizens Are Present Faster Than The Police. “If you are in a remote area, it is Questionable Whether there are Others nearby. If you call the police headquarters, your location is Already Being passed on. So you can alreaty be followed.”
Safety is The Highest Priority
The Developers would like to talk to the Police and Other Authorities. But even if the police would indicate that they would prefer the app not to be launched, it will still come.
“We want to have a first version to test within a months,” Says Gerrits. “With a view to safety, we want to test with people we trust. What will that look like? Safety is our highest priority.”
Gerrits and Mooij are also figuring out the financial picture. It will be a non-profit organization, Mooij Explains. “Everything and Everyone WHO is now participating does so Voluntarily. The Two of US Are Currently Working on this full-time.”