{"id":118027,"date":"2025-03-07T15:17:14","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/activist\/deepfakes-and-digital-abuse-dismantling-technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence\/"},"modified":"2025-03-07T15:17:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:17:14","slug":"deepfakes-and-digital-abuse-dismantling-technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=118027","title":{"rendered":"Deepfakes and Digital Abuse: Dismantling Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As we celebrate the achievements of women globally on International Women\u2019s Day we must also acknowledge the ongoing digital threats that disproportionately target them. From non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) and deepfake abuse to algorithmically amplified harassment, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) threatens gender equality, free expression, and personal safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

To address the pressing problem of TFGBV, WITNESS has <\/span>submitted recommendations<\/span><\/a> to the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee as part of its study on TFGBV. Our submission highlights gaps in the current international human rights framework and offers concrete strategies to strengthen global responses to digital gender-based violence based on years of work on technology and with vulnerable communities globally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2018, WITNESS conducted global in-person consultations with journalists, technologists, community leaders and other human rights actors. During these conversations, AI-driven Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) was identified as one of the most pressing threats across regions, including <\/span>South-East Asia<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Africa<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Latin America<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Brazil<\/span><\/a>. The misuse of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create non-consensual sexual deepfakes of ordinary citizens is already a reality. Deepfakes depicting female leaders and activists in compromising or false situations <\/span>could be used<\/span><\/a> to discredit their authority, undermine their influence, erode public trust, and lead to physical harm. This could have a <\/span>chilling effect<\/span><\/a>, discouraging women from participating in political, social, and economic arenas, thereby reinforcing gender inequality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

AI-Driven Gender-Based Violence<\/b><\/h3>\n

Years of WITNESS\u2019 <\/span>Technology Threats and Opportunities (TTO) program<\/span><\/a> underscores how AI, particularly generative AI and deepfake technology, is being weaponized to silence and discredit vulnerable communities. Since 2018, WITNESS has led <\/span>Prepare, Don\u2019t Panic<\/span><\/a>, the first civil society-led initiative tackling synthetic media threats on the information ecosystem. As part of this work, WITNESS has conducted extensive work on risk and harm assessments of <\/span>provenance and authenticity standards<\/span><\/a>, alongside advocacy for equitable and effective detection tools. Our expertise has revealed the significant limitations of these technologies in responding to TFGBV.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2023, WITNESS\u2019s <\/span>Deepfake Rapid Response Force (DRRF)<\/span><\/a> has also provided real-time deepfake analysis in election and conflict contexts globally, highlighting the impact of AI-generated falsehoods on the information ecosystem, democracy and human rights. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Lessons learnt from the DRRF directly translate into the challenges faced when dealing with non-consensual sexual deepfake content which is increasingly used as a tool of intimidation, extortion, and misinformation. This has grave implications for democracy, free expression, and personal safety of women and gender minorities:<\/span><\/p>\n