Activist 'in hiding' fearing for her safety
Popular Twitch user and local transgender activist Clara Sorrenti says she is currently in hiding — fearing for her safety.
Sorrenti says she has received threats after going public with an incident involving the London Police Service. She posted the experience on YouTube Thursday night.
“I have been the target of an intense harassment campaign for several months,” says Sorrenti in a video she posted online. “Users of the website kiwifarms.com had doxed me and publicly posted the address of my hotel room [and] the house that I used to live at.”
On Aug, 5, Sorrenti was an alleged victim of what police are now investigating as a possible "swatting incident."
During that time, it’s alleged that police used Sorrenti's dead name and incorrect gender. LPS Police Chief Steve Williams has since apologized for the mishandling of the incident.
For now, Sorrenti says she is living in an Airbnb that is being rented by a third party in order to protect her identity.
“This case serves as an example of just how insidious swatting has become,” says Carmi Levy, a tech expert. “It isn’t a one-time impact, it’s ongoing and in some cases like this one…never seems to end.”
Sorrenti has shared online that her family, friends and people associated with her have been doxed.
According to Levi, cases like this one are becoming more frequent and difficult to manage.
“Police forces both here in London and across North America have been struggling with this in recent years. Unfortunately, law enforcement finds itself between a rock and a hard place and there is no easy solution,” Levy says.
And despite some unresolved issues with police, Sorrenti says police are taking the current threats against her seriously and they are working together on the matter.
“I am scared that things are going to escalate in future violence against me,” Sorrenti says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.