Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

The U.S. presidential election and the campaign have again highlighted a key issue — of technology and online spaces posing a threat to the safety and the dignity of women.

Global Pattern of Harassment for Women Leaders

Prevalence of Online Abuse	Nearly 23% of women surveyed across eight countries reported experiencing online abuse or harassment multiple times, with the U.S. showing the highest incidence rate.
Women in Power Facing Gender Bias	High-profile women, such as U.S. politician Nikki Haley and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have been subjected to gender bias in technology and safety.
Case of Nikki Haley	Haley faced manipulated explicit images circulating online during her Republican primary campaign.
Case of Giorgia Meloni	Meloni was targeted with deepfake content aimed at undermining her credibility.
Bangladesh Female Politicians	Female politicians Rumin Farhana and Nipun Roy were targeted with deepfake images on social media, which circulated widely ahead of the January 7, 2024, general election.
Impact of Online Harassment in Bangladesh	Deepfake images of Farhana and Roy attracted millions of views on social media, significantly impacting their public perception.

How does online abuse uniquely affect women compared to men?

Prevalence of Online Harassment	41% of Americans have experienced online harassment, including offensive name-calling, physical threats, stalking, sexual harassment, or prolonged harassment.
Gender Differences in Emotional Impact	35% of harassed women found their experience “extremely” or “very” upsetting, compared to 16% of men.
Views on Online Harassment as a Public Issue	70% of women see online harassment as a major problem, versus 54% of men. Among young adults (ages 18–29), 83% of women view it as major, compared to 55% of men.
Personal Safety vs. Free Speech	63% of women value safety in online spaces, while 56% of men prioritize free speech.
Gender and Types of Online Harassment	44% of men and 37% of women have faced harassment. Men are more often called offensive names (30% vs. 23%) or physically threatened (12% vs. 8%), while young women face higher rates of sexual harassment (21% vs. 9%).
Sexualized Abuse	21% of young women (18–29) report sexual harassment, and 53% received unwanted explicit images, compared to 37% of young men.
Harassment Due to Gender	11% of women report harassment specifically due to their gender, compared with 5% of men.
Preferred Solutions	Women favor stronger laws (36% vs. 24% of men), while men prefer improved company policies (39% vs. 31% of women). Women also feel law enforcement does not take online harassment seriously enough (46% vs. 39% of men).

Big Tech’s Responsibility and Regulatory Gaps

The Unintended Consequences: Digital platforms, which are incredibly profitable due to high user engagement, have fallen short in prioritizing user safety and content moderation.

The Need for Moderation Systems: Rather than only relying on user reporting, tech companies must invest in advanced moderation systems to proactively identify and remove harmful content. Faster response times to flagged content is the need of an hour.

Regulating AI-Generated Content: To mitigate the risks associated with AI-generated content, tech companies should be legally obligated to label such content transparently. For example, deepfakes or harmful misinformation, the content should be removed.

The Influence of Tech Moguls: The growing influence of tech giants, like Elon Musk, can further elevate the problem. Their personal biases can inadvertently shape public opinion and spread misinformation.

Implications

The failure of major tech companies to effectively manage degrading content places an undue burden on women. The nature of online abuse varies significantly; while men often face misinformation regarding their roles, women are subjected to objectification, sexualized content, and body shaming.

Way Forward:

Policy and Governance	Establish clear guidelines to address gender bias in technology and online platforms. Promote diversity in tech leadership to ensure varied perspectives in decision making.
Technology Design	Develop AI tools to identify and flag abusive content directed at women for quicker intervention. Involve women in technology design and testing phases to better understand their needs and experiences.
Education and Training	Implement training programs on gender sensitivity and bias impacts for developers and tech professionals. Enhance digital literacy among women to empower them to navigate technology safely and effectively.
Online Safety Measures	Improve reporting systems for online harassment to be more accessible and responsive to women’s experiences. Encourage platforms to provide robust privacy settings for users to control data and interactions more effectively.

Conclusion

The digital harassment of women through AI technologies demands immediate action from tech companies, governments, and society. Ensuring that AI systems are free from gender biases is essential not only for women’s empowerment but also for upholding democratic principles and human dignity.

Source:

The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Despite significant advancements in technology, big tech companies have failed to create safe online spaces for women, leading to increasing instances of online harassment and gender-based violence. Critically examine the reasons behind this failure and suggest measures to ensure safer online environments for women. (250 words)