SPARK Op-Ed | Guideline of Ethical PDFs

1. Consent: Ensure you have explicit consent from individuals whose sensitive information is included, especially for images or personal stories.

2. Accuracy: Verify the authenticity and accuracy of the information shared to prevent the spread of misinformation.

3. Privacy: Redact personal data that could lead to unauthorized identification or harm, unless it's crucial for public interest and cannot be anonymized.

4. Public Interest: Distribute information that serves the public interest, such as exposing wrongdoing, rather than for sensationalism or personal gain.

5. Safety: Avoid sharing content that could incite violence, harassment, or endanger individuals' safety.

6. Responsibility: Acknowledge the impact of the distributed PDFs and take responsibility for ensuring they do not contribute to harm or illegal activities.

7. Language: Incorporating sensitive language in ethical guidelines for PDF compilers involves using terminology that respects and empowers individuals. For example, referring to individuals who have experienced sexual harassment or assault as "survivors" rather than "victims" emphasizes their strength and resilience.

SPARK's aim is not to eliminate PDF culture. Justice systems use bureaucratic red tape to discourage survivors from coming forward and seeking justice, and PDF culture emerged as an alternative means of seeking accountability. The issue is not the PDF, but the false allies who co-op, corrupt, and monetize it.

Our vision is that SPARK will be more than an organization, but a movement that redefines agency, autonomy, and allyship to empower survivors.