Cyber Sexual Assault: A New Frontier of Trauma for Student-Athletes
For years, our legal careers have been dedicated to advocating for survivors of sexual violence, individuals betrayed by the very institutions entrusted with their protection. These cases often involved physical spaces, hidden exam rooms, or the abuse of power by coaches and authority figures. However, our most recent case presents a starkly different reality, a new manifestation of sexual violence that unfolds in the digital realm.
This case transcends the boundaries of physical contact and traditional settings. It involves stolen passwords, compromised cloud accounts, and the remote exploitation of intensely private images. Yet, despite the absence of physical interaction, the violation remains profoundly personal, devastatingly impactful, and undeniably real. We are witnessing the emergence of cyber sexual assault.
Currently, we represent student-athletes from across the United States, primarily young women, who have been victims of illegal data access. Federal prosecutors allege that Matt Weiss, a former football coach at the University of Michigan, illicitly accessed multiple personal email accounts. Tragically, many of these accounts belonged to student-athletes, containing sensitive and compromising photos and videos. Some of our clients were only notified of the breach through letters from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The trauma experienced by these athletes is overwhelming, and for some, painfully familiar. One of our clients is a survivor of the horrific abuse perpetrated by Dr. Larry Nassar. All of these athletes made significant sacrifices to pursue their dreams of collegiate athletics, and all were once again failed by the institutions they proudly represented.
It is imperative that we recognize and address this issue for what it truly is: a digital form of sexual violence. Cyber sexual assault entails nonconsensual access to the most private aspects of an individual’s life. Unlike traditional sexual violence, it does not require physical contact. The violation transpires through a screen, but the psychological and emotional consequences are no less severe.
Unfortunately, higher education institutions have been slow to acknowledge and address this evolving threat. While most institutions have established robust policies to address physical assault, few have developed comprehensive protocols to respond to digital violations of student privacy, let alone cyber sexual abuse.
In the present case, the universities’ failure to adequately vet and monitor third-party vendors facilitated a massive breach that spanned multiple institutions. Even after being alerted to the threat, many schools failed to promptly notify their students. Tragically, some of our clients learned of their victimization not from their schools, but from court filings or news reports. This lack of transparency and proactive communication is unconscionable.
It is time for educational institutions to treat cybersecurity with the same level of seriousness and urgency as they treat campus security. Both are integral to ensuring student safety. When student-athletes are targeted in this manner, when their private images are accessed and potentially shared without their consent, it constitutes a violation that is no less egregious than physical assault.
The Weiss case is indicative of a disturbing trend. In 2024, the FBI reported a significant increase in sextortion and image-based abuse targeting minors and college-age students. As technology advances, so does the reach of abusers. However, our systems and institutions are failing to adapt and provide adequate protection.
Our clients are not only seeking accountability for the specific harm they have suffered in this case, they are also calling for a broader re-evaluation of how we define and respond to sexual violence in the digital age. This begins with treating cyber sexual assault with the gravity and seriousness it deserves.
Universities must prioritize prompt notification of victims, provide full cooperation with investigations, and implement the same trauma-informed protocols for digital violations that they would for physical ones. Furthermore, it is essential to recognize that when data is breached, lives are breached. Survivors deserve support, understanding, and validation, not silence and dismissal.
We have a moral obligation to these student-athletes to rise to the occasion and address this emerging threat effectively. Furthermore, we owe it to future generations to build institutions that are worthy of their trust, institutions that prioritize their safety and well-being in both the physical and digital realms. This requires a fundamental shift in mindset, a recognition that cyber sexual assault is a real and devastating form of violence, and a commitment to developing comprehensive strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to these crimes. The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and our institutions must adapt accordingly to protect those entrusted to their care.
