AI and the Reinvention of Misogyny: Combating Online Violence Against Women

The Scale of Violence Against Women

• 📌 The UN reports that every 10 minutes last year, a woman was killed by someone close to her, with approximately 50,000 women and girls killed by intimate partners or family members in 2024.
• ⚠️ Despite the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, the UN notes a concerning lack of progress in combating femicide.

Toxic Masculinity and Shifting Attitudes

• 🧠 A report highlights a polarization among young people, with some men adopting harsh sexist ideas promoted by movements focused on toxic masculinity.
• 📈 Data indicates that 45% of men under 35 believe it's difficult to be a man today, with a significant percentage feeling it's easy to be a woman and that showing emotions is wrong.
• 🗣️ The report advises awareness programs for young people to educate them on respect and the prevention of sexist and sexual violence.

AI's Role in Amplifying Digital Abuse

• 💻 The weaponization of technology has worsened the situation, leading to an increase in sexist and misogynistic behaviors, particularly among young men.
• 🚀 Influencers promoting toxic masculinity and the failure of big tech companies to implement guardrails are contributing to the problem, supercharging online abuse and harassment.
• 🤖 Generative AI is enabling the creation of deep fakes, AI girlfriends, and cyber brothels, intensifying digital abuse and sexual abuse epidemics.

The Online-to-Offline Violence Trajectory

• 🌐 Online violence is not virtual; it escalates and can lead to offline abuse, harassment, and attacks, sometimes impacting family members.
• ⚠️ Research shows a significant percentage of women journalists have experienced online violence, with a portion reporting subsequent offline abuse believed to be seeded online.
• 📍 The trajectory from online threats to offline harm, including credible death threats and physical intimidation, is a serious concern.

Addressing the Crisis: Regulation, Education, and Inclusion

• ⚖️ There is a strong call for AI regulation, with Europe potentially leading the way in establishing norms and safeguards.
• 📚 Education, including critical digital literacy from an early age, is crucial for navigating online spaces safely and challenging harmful narratives.
• 🤝 Inclusion in technology sectors and promoting diverse role models are vital to combatting biases and changing entrenched cultural attitudes.
• 🔒 Legislative action and political will are needed to address the lack of legal protection for women against digital violence and to combat impunity.
• 🚨 Misogyny, particularly networked misogyny, should be understood as a form of potential violent extremism, requiring a security lens and serious political attention.
• 🌍 Addressing gender-based violence online is also framed as a matter of protecting democracy, as it impacts women's participation in public and political life.