CSIS Seminar

On Inclusive Privacy and Security in Digital Platforms for Empowering Marginalized Communities

Abstract

The integration of technology into daily life has brought significant privacy and security challenges, particularly for at-risk populations. This talk will address these issues through three recent studies published at CHI and USENIX Security, focusing on the understudied communities of healthcare professionals and victims of technology-facilitated abuse (TFA). These two understudied communities are connected by a common lack of resources and available technical solutions. First, I will discuss the unique privacy and security challenges faced by audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in telehealth settings and will discuss the measures, practices, and attitudes perceived by these professionals, highlighting the need for security solutions in telehealth. Next, I will address the pervasive issue of TFA among college students, where despite its high prevalence, over half do not seek formal support and primarily rely on informal networks. Finally, I will delve into the safety and security risks posed by TFA from intimate partners. Despite existing interventions, many survivors are unaware of or lack access to resources. This talk will emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance privacy and security for at-risk populations, calling for policy changes, technology design improvements, and increased awareness and training.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Sanchari Das is an Assistant Professor at the University of Denver (DU), where she leads the Inclusive Security and Privacy-focused Innovative Research in Information Technology (InSPIRIT) Lab and co-directs the Secure Realities Lab. Her research spans a wide array of inclusive privacy and security topics, including social media privacy, healthcare, educational technology, financial security, intimate partner violence, and organizational security. She focuses notably on at-risk populations such as older adults, people with disabilities, immigrants, and children, and on emerging technologies such as Augmented/Virtual/Mixed Reality, conversational agents, the Internet of Things, and others. Sanchari has published in top-tier security conferences (USENIX Security, IEEE S&P, NDSS) and leading human-computer interaction venues (CHI, CSCW, ASSETS). She has also played a key role in organizing essential workshops and panels, particularly the Workshop on Inclusive Privacy and Security (WIPS) at the Symposium on Usable Privacy and Security (SOUPS) for two consecutive years. Additionally, she has served on organizing and program committees for top cybersecurity conferences (USENIX Security, IEEE S&P, CCS, NDSS) and major HCI venues (CHI, CSCW, DIS). Sanchari’s research excellence and leadership have garnered numerous awards and over $1 million in funding through interdepartmental and global collaborations. Among her accolades, she received the Distinguished Faculty Award at the University of Denver in 2023. Driven by a passion for creating secure and inclusive digital environments, Sanchari continues to push the boundaries of research in usable security and privacy, making a profound impact on the academic community and beyond.