AUSTIN, Texas: As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms the way people communicate, access services and interact with technology, experts are calling for domestic violence survivor safety to be embedded in responsible AI development.

Thus, the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) has launched the national AI Safety Council with Amazon and EndTAB (End Tech-Enabled Abuse). The national cross-sector initiative brings together leaders in domestic violence survivor advocacy, technology, education, law enforcement and public policy to drive responsible AI development with survivor safety, ethical innovation and accountability at its core.

“The AI Safety Council is designed to ensure the safety of domestic violence survivors is not an afterthought for the technology industry, but instead considered as part of the design process,” said Gloria Aguilera Terry, CEO of TCFV. “Because more than 1 in 3 U.S. women have experienced sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime, there is no excuse for failing to plan for how technology will impact them. This Council brings together the people who understand both the promise of AI and the realities survivors face every day.”

The AI Safety Council will develop practical guidance to help inform how emerging AI technologies can better support survivors while reducing opportunities for technology-enabled abuse. Its first initiatives include a Code of Ethics for responsible AI development and implementation, a Policy Brief outlining key recommendations and accountability measures for policymakers and technology leaders, and practical resources to help domestic violence advocates navigate AI in their daily work.

Technology has increasingly become part of the survivor experience, from image-based abuse and digital stalking or location tracking to impersonation, deepfakes and online harassment. At the same time, AI presents new opportunities to innovate with intent, improve survivor services, strengthen advocate training, expand accessibility and streamline safety resources when developed responsibly.

"Amazon is proud to support the AI Safety Council alongside the Texas Council on Family Violence and EndTAB. We all have a responsibility to listen to survivors and advocates and build safeguards into our products and services. This Council represents exactly the kind of cross-sector collaboration needed to turn that responsibility into action,” said Raquel Medrano, head of community engagement at Amazon Devices.

The AI Safety Council convened in-person in Austin, Texas, in July 2026, where members examined the risks and opportunities AI presents for survivors and the organizations that serve them. During the convening, participants explored emerging applications ranging from AI-assisted advocate training simulations for crisis hotlines to tools that could help survivors report and document image-based abuse more efficiently.

“Advocates possess the most important resource in this conversation - their expertise,” said Adam Dodge, founder of EndTAB. “AI is not the superpower here; the people supporting survivors are. This Council can not only evaluate the safety gaps presented by technology but also help survivors and advocates increase their AI literacy. What we see is people using AI without understanding its consequences, including the good and the bad.”

Beyond developing guidance documents and policy recommendations, the Council plans to continuously assess AI's impact on the domestic violence field and the systems that survivors use, identify emerging technology-enabled threats and equip advocates with practical tools to better support survivors in an increasingly digital world.

As AI capabilities continue to evolve, the AI Safety Council aims to provide a forum where survivors and advocates can shape conversations that have historically occurred without their perspective, bringing frontline expertise into discussions that influence technology development, corporate practices and public policy.

Organizations and corporations interested in collaborating with the national AI Safety Council may reach out to Gloria Aguilera Terry at Gterry@tcfv.org.

About Texas Council on Family Violence

The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) is the only 501(c) 3 nonprofit coalition in Texas dedicated solely to creating safer communities and freedom from family violence. With a state-wide reach and direct local impact, TCFV, with the collective strength of more than 1,300 members, shapes public policy, equips service providers and initiates strategic prevention efforts. Visit us online at https://tcfv.org/.

Fonte: Business Wire