Silicon Valley Tech Community Warns of Over 100 Alleged Predators Through Private Spreadsheet

A private spreadsheet containing over 100 names of alleged sexual predators in Silicon Valley has been circulating among female tech workers, aiming to warn others about individuals to avoid. The document, which includes prominent investors and businessmen from major tech and AI companies, details allegations of drugging, sexual assault, and rape. Sources indicate that the list serves as a ‘whisper network’ to protect women who fear retaliation from powerful figures in the tech industry. One contributor, a young tech worker in her 20s, shared her experience of being approached to add her account of misconduct after discussing it with others. She expressed concerns about career repercussions if she pursued legal action, noting that speaking up could lead to being ‘blacklisted’ from investors. The list has been shared in ‘hacker houses,’ where living arrangements often overlap with professional relationships, creating environments where predators can exploit vulnerabilities. A second insider described how some predators use friendship to learn vulnerabilities before crossing boundaries, targeting both isolated newcomers and successful individuals as ‘trophies.’ Yehong Zhu, founder of the app Zette, shared her own experience of being raped by someone she considered a friend, leading to a police report in December 2021. Despite her efforts, the accused individual fled and remains at large. The Muse House, a San Francisco community house, faced criticism for minimizing the incident and discouraging police involvement, while Launch House in Beverly Hills took immediate action to remove an alleged perpetrator. The article highlights a broader culture in Silicon Valley where victims often feel unable to report misconduct due to fears of professional retaliation. The document also references past incidents, including a 2022 report by AI researcher Keerthana Gopalakrishnan on sexual pressure in Effective Altruism circles. Zhu hopes her public account will encourage others to come forward and prevent similar experiences. The list has been shared widely, with over 82,000 shares reported on the platform. The article underscores the challenges women face in reporting sexual misconduct in an industry where professional connections are deeply intertwined with personal relationships.