Crash Override Network

Crash Override was founded by game developers Zoë Quinn and Alex Lifschitz,[6] and was staffed exclusively by victims of online abuse whose identities were kept anonymous outside the group.[7] Quinn and Lifschitz were subjected to online abuse during the Gamergate harassment campaign, with both receiving death threats and being doxxed.[8][9][10]

Crash Override formed a partnership with Feminist Frequency in March 2016, which served as its financial sponsor.[11]

From December 2016, Crash Override's hotline was closed.[12] Some time in 2018, Crash Override closed fully, and "passed the torch to other organisations".[13]

The founders of Crash Override consider it a conversation starter, a repository for addressing problems that others in and out of the gaming community "have long hoped would simply go away."[10] The organisation's services are divided into three categories: ongoing assistance for victims, crisis centre support, and community outreach.[2][14] They provide post-crisis counseling services,[4] help seeking shelter,[14] and access to experts in information security, white hat hacking, law enforcement, public relations and threat monitoring.[2][7] The network tailors a unique plan of action for each victim[14] and works with law enforcement, the media, and social media.[14] They promise to help victims regardless of previous affiliations and ideology, including Gamergate supporters.[4]

The group has been credited with defusing a swatting attack by advising the target to preemptively contact the police.[6][15] Quinn said the launch of Crash Override Network led to a renewed and heightened campaign of abuse, and the website underwent daily hack attempts.[3] In May 2015, the organisation became an official Twitter trusted safety resource.[16]

• Official website