OAPI was created by Randi Lee Harper in response to Twitter's lack of tools for filtering online harassment.
[2] OAPI was founded in 2015, with Crash Override Network's Zoë Quinn and Alex Lifschitz stated as serving on the inaugural board of directors.
[4] The stated goals of the OAPI are to study online abuse, and to reduce and mitigate it through technical measures and collaboration with tech companies.
[5] Its first public campaign was an open letter to ICANN, the organization responsible for coordinating the Internet's Domain Name System, opposing the latter's plans to end anonymity of WHOIS records for commercial websites.
OAPI argues that ICANN's proposals will make it easier for abusers to physically endanger domain name registrants through doxxing and swatting,[6][1] and that those marginalized for their race, gender, or sexual orientation are disproportionately at risk.