Japanese police develop Anti-groping smartphone app

A smartphone app developed by Japanese police is being widely downloaded by women trying to protect themselves from gropers on packed rush‑hour trains.

Women who face sexual harassment in Japan are typically afraid to call out for help.

The app produces a written message saying "There is a groper here. Please help"

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police said 1,750 cases of groping were reported in 2017.

The "Digi Police" app was originally issued by Tokyo police three years ago, but a function to scare off molesters was only added recently.

Since then, the app has reportedly been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times — unusual for a government‑developed mobile application.

A typical subway poster reads: "what happened?" "it's a...groper!" "Are you okay?" Man: "It's a crime" Woman: "It's unforgivable". (Supplied: j-town gotochi column)

[Source: abc.net.au]

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