Anshimi: Women's Perceptions of Safety Data and the Efficacy of a Safety Application in Seoul

Abstract

In this paper we examine Anshimi, a mobile safety application that hosts women's safety services. We present a case study based on qualitative data gathered from semi-structured interviews and a participatory design workshop with women in Seoul, South Korea. We examine women's perceptions of various kinds of safety data that Anshimi provides and collects from its users, such as GPS data, security camera footage, messages, personal information, etc. Exploring how women negotiate the tension between feeling protected and surveilled, we account for the nuanced ways in which women understand, feel, and use safety data in their daily lives. We also present scenarios for engaging with women's safety data, in the hopes of developing a guiding framework for designing women's safety applications and safety data practices.