The violence women face within the realm of artificial intelligence in the internet age is not something new; it is merely a continuation of the violence that women have suffered throughout history, across different cultures and in various forms. With the advancement of artificial technology in recent years, what we see is that societal violence has evolved, taking on new and more creative forms while keeping the same old forms of repression.
One issue gaining significant attention is deepfake technology, which is used to exploit and violate women’s bodies, cases vary from Zimbabwe, India, Brazil and the UK. The consequences are devastating, from shame and guilt to finding hard-to-find employment after being a victim of this horrendous online crime. This shows us that the ''virtual'' and ''real'' worlds are deeply connected, and we should not take matters lightly.
From another point of view, gender violence becomes, once again, disproportionately simply violence against women. Female journalists are disproportionately targeted, facing violence aimed at discrediting their professional integrity. The State of Deepfakes: Landscape, Threats, and Impact report says that, out of over 14000 deepfake online material analysed, 96% of them were non-consensual private content and all ''top 5'' content from ‘deepfake pornography websites’ were targeting women.
To put in perspective the long-term damage and perpetuation of harmful views and technology tools being used against women and children, in one school in the United States, students are under investigation for sharing pornographic images of their female classmates. What all these instances have in common is that the individuals subjected to this violence are women or are perceived as such.
It is essential to discuss this because gender-based violence does not only affect women but, time and again, women constitute the majority of targets. This fact underscores the urgent need to focus on this issue. It requires a society that systematically devalues women and people from 'marginalised' backgrounds for these types of actions to occur, and the situation is worsening. Another clear example of that, just in time, of course, is the mainstream campaigns on social media (coming directly from the big bosses) to end Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programmes, plus the fact that big platforms, such as Meta / Facebook are removing fact-checks from its set up. Making it even more challenging to combat misinformation and lies being spread online. In a time when violence and disinformation are rampant, who does this benefit? How does this perpetuate harm?
Gender-based violence in artificial intelligence might seem like a niche topic; however, these technological abuses form part of the broader spectrum of violence women face daily. Whether it’s physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual violence, these abuses use sex as a weapon to shame and diminish women.
This is yet another example of why we must safeguard future generations. If we continue on this trajectory, it will normalise a world where women are consistently ridiculed, belittled, and controlled through sexual violence. Without intervention, things will only get worse.
Despite the grim reality, we should also remember that technology has the potential to bring about positive change. Many organisations are working hard to promote ethical artificial intelligence, prioritising diversity, quality, and respect. Discussions around ethics in AI are crucial in ensuring that technology represents and uplifts all individuals, not just a privileged few.
As we navigate this complex landscape, we must keep pushing for a future where AI is a tool for equity and empowerment. This starts with recognising women's injustices and committing to addressing them head-on. It is a long path, but we stand together.
In solidarity,
Beatriz F.
Resources and further reading: https://wiisglobal.org/deepfakes-as-a-security-issue-why-gender-matters/
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