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Comment by oh_sigh | Hacker News Reader

I have no knowledge of this issue specifically, but more generally, if you're even a somewhat public figure, I think the best course of action is to have a discreet 24/7 bodycam rolling to record all of your interactions. We're at a point where your career and social network can be torpedoed by anyone merely making a claim on social media. No police, no day in court, just allegations are enough.

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So you're take away from this is that he, Robert Scoble, is in more need of protection via body cam than any of the women who came out against him?

No, my take away is that mere accusations, regardless of legitimacy, can destroy your career and reputation.

Assuming you didn't do these evil deeds, having video or audio proof(if legal in your jurisdiction) is really the only way to counter them.

Otherwise, what do you say? "No, I didn't rape/sexually assault this person". The accusation alone is salacious enough that a mere denial isn't going to change anyone's mind.

And I would say that the women's accusations, if true, would be bolstered if they had video/audio evidence of it.

> Assuming you didn't do these evil deeds, having video or audio proof(if legal in your jurisdiction) is really the only way to counter them.

Well, the traditional solution to this is to just cross-examine the accusers about the cut of their skirt, whether or not they had any idea what they were doing when you invited them to the hotel room, how many casual sexual partners they had, and all sorts of other bullshit that's completely irrelevant to whether or not they were raped or harassed.

It tends to work pretty well for people who are actually guilty, it should work even better for the innocent.

Do you have an actual point relating to what I said? Yes, courts were and continue to be sexist. I never argued against that, and I don't see how it is at all relevant to this conversation at this point.

If you are a public figure, and you never sexually assaulted anyone, yet multiple people were accusing you in public of doing so, how (if at all) would you defend yourself?

Sue them for libel. As a public figure, I am almost certainly able to bear the burdens of protracted litigation then they are.

(It's one of the reasons why people think twice about accusing the guilty.)

From "Elements of Libel and Slander"[1]

> First, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant made a false and defamatory statement concerning the plaintiff.

How do you prove that you didn't sexually assault someone 5 years ago? Gee, a recording of all of your interactions would come in handy here.

[1] http://injury.findlaw.com/torts-and-personal-injuries/elemen...

Well, you could always ask Woody Allen.

https://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/an-open-letter-...

Again, not sure what your point is

Just people finding out you have a bodycam is likely enough to get a harassment bandwagon going against you. It's creepy.

You don't need to tell anyone.

In twelve US states, not telling people is a crime. California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington require all parties being recorded to consent.

That's for audio recordings I believe, and oh_sigh did say in another comment where legal in your jurisdiction

Yes, and then if you ever try to use those recordings it gets even creepier.

"I was afraid that people would make false claims against me, so I recorded my presence at some events. Check it out and you be the judge if accuser us telling the truth or not"

'sexual abuser records creepy video of his unknowing victims using a hidden body camera'

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