TripAdvisor accused by ‘countless’ women of failing to adequately warn ...

An anonymous individual is calling out TripAdvisor for allegedly failing to protect its users from patronizing businesses where people have been sexually assaulted.

The user identified only as K.K. has started a petition on Change.org seeking to persuade the world's largest travel site to change its policy on how it deals with reported sexual assaults, following allegedly being attacked by a tour guide 'with stellar reviews on TripAdvisor.'

The site currently encourages users to post a public, first-person review warning others of allegations of violence, but K.K. would like to see implicated businesses removed from the platform, entirely.  

'I’m just one of countless women who’ve been ignored or mistreated by TripAdvisor after reporting a sexual assault at a business on their site,' K.K. wrote in the petition which has amassed over 143,000 signatures 

'In the era of #MeToo, this company is not taking violence against women seriously.'  

The site didn't always invite the reviews it now seeks, however, coming under fire in November of 2017 for rejecting such posts because they were not 'family friendly.' 

A person identified only as K.K. has started a petition on Change.org seeking to persuade TripAdvisor (logo inset at top left) to change its policy on how it deals with reported sexual assaults, following allegedly being attacked by a tour guide 'with stellar reviews' on the site. The photo K.K. has used on the petition site is shown

A person identified only as K.K. has started a petition on Change.org seeking to persuade TripAdvisor (logo inset at top left) to change its policy on how it deals with reported sexual assaults, following allegedly being attacked by a tour guide 'with stellar reviews' on the site. The photo K.K. has used on the petition site is shown

K.K. would like to see such listings removed from the platform, but TripAdvisor said to do so would be dangerous, 'allowing a business to operate in the shadows, without having a transparent record of travelers’ experiences,' and instead asks users to submit first person reviews of assaults. The TripAdvisor logo is shown

K.K. would like to see such listings removed from the platform, but TripAdvisor said to do so would be dangerous, 'allowing a business to operate in the shadows, without having a transparent record of travelers’ experiences,' and instead asks users to submit first person reviews of assaults. The TripAdvisor logo is shown

'On a recent international trip with friends, I decided to go on an outdoor excursion,' K.K. wrote in the petition.

'I never would have imagined that our tour guide, who came with stellar reviews on TripAdvisor, would ultimately rape me, and that TripAdvisor would do next to nothing to prevent him from doing it again.'

TripAdvisor has said its site a research tool, and it does not 'promote' any one business over another. 

'We are often asked why we don’t remove a business listing when something terrible happens. Having a business listing on our platform isn’t an endorsement of that business. What makes TripAdvisor different from other platforms is that it would be a disservice to the public to remove these listings and therefore withhold valuable information. Allowing a business to operate in the shadows, without having a transparent record of travelers’ experiences at that location, potentially puts travelers at risk,' a TripAdvisor spokesperson said in a statement.

TripAdvisor said leaving the pages up of businesses that have been implicated in alleged assaults is 'helpful in warning the public so people can make an informed decision.'

K.K., however, argues that relying on reviews in not sufficient, as the posts are listed chronologically on the platform, and the solution is insensitive to the needs of survivors of assault.

K.K. argues the existing approach is re-traumatizing and insufficient. The petition has amassed more than 143,000 signatures, to date

K.K. argues the existing approach is re-traumatizing and insufficient. The petition has amassed more than 143,000 signatures, to date

'I’m just one of countless women who’ve been ignored or mistreated by TripAdvisor after reporting a sexual assault at a business on their site,' K.K. wrote

'I’m just one of countless women who’ve been ignored or mistreated by TripAdvisor after reporting a sexual assault at a business on their site,' K.K. wrote

'My assault was deeply traumatic and probably one of the worst things I’ve ever experienced. But the humiliation I was put through when I turned to TripAdvisor for help was almost worse,' K.K. wrote in the petition.

'When I asked for help warning other tourists about my attacker, the company simply suggested I leave a review. Not only was this solution woefully inadequate to warn other tourists – my one star review would quickly get lost among minor complaints about the guide – but it required me to relive the

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