At the AI Action Summit hosted by France, a group of 12 countries has, for the first time, issued a joint statement urging the full integration of gender equality in the era of AI. The statement, issued under the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse, says that AI should be “designed, developed, evaluated, tested, deployed, and used“ with human rights and gender equality at its core.
The Global Partnership, supported by a multidisciplinary advisory group, focuses on understanding, preventing, and addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Governments from Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the UK have signed the joint statement.
Ensuring AI doesn’t ignore gender-based harassment
The goal is to prevent AI from ignoring gender-based harassment and abuse in its operations. Today, AI influences almost every small decision we make, from recommending a book to read to adjusting algorithms that determine what content we consume on social media. If AI systems are not programmed to identify and mitigate harmful behaviour, they risk perpetuating biases or enabling harassment.
AI’s growing role in everyday life can also have serious consequences. Social media platforms, for example, often rely on AI to decide which posts to promote. Unfortunately, these systems sometimes amplify abusive or harmful content because they prioritise engagement, whether people like, share, or argue over it.
Without proper safeguards, AI can unintentionally promote toxic behaviour or fail to filter out harassment targeted at marginalised communities, especially women and gender-diverse individuals. That is why initiatives like the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse are necessary to make AI systems fair, inclusive, and accountable.
We need stricter AI regulation for safer digital spaces
The low representation of women in the AI industry (only 22% of AI professionals) is a significant factor in the rise of gender-based issues in technology. With primarily male-dominated teams, it is easier for misogyny and harmful stereotypes to slip into AI systems. Without enough women involved, these biases can go unchecked. They ultimately compromise women’s safety.
AI is increasingly being weaponised against women. One of the prime examples of this is the deepfake technology. Anyone can become a victim of non-consensual intimate deepfakes (NCID), a form of abuse labelled as “deepfake porn.” In January 2024, social media platforms were full of intimate images of pop icon Taylor Swift. These images, though fake, quickly spread to millions of users.
The vast majority of deepfakes online are pornographic and disproportionately targeting women. A report analysing 14,678 deepfake videos found that 96% were NCID. Surprisingly, 100% of this content comes from the top five deepfake porn sites targeting women.
If we do not build AI systems with fairness and accountability, these dangers will only grow. Moreover, they will threaten the safety of women and LGBTQ+ individuals in digital spaces.
Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse emphasises protecting women’s rights in digital spaces
The Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse urges governments to protect the rights of women and girls in all digital spaces. To reduce the risks of online harassment and abuse, digital technology and AI companies must adopt safety-by-design principles at every stage of design, development, and deployment.
The partnership also stresses the importance of AI literacy, especially for women and girls. Equitable access to digital education equips women, particularly those in vulnerable situations, to identify and challenge biases, stereotypes, and discrimination in AI systems.
The problem here is that many tech companies prioritise innovation and profit over meaningful protections.
The final thoughts on the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse
AI’s presence in our present and future is undeniable. So is its capacity to harm if left unchecked. The Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse has been working since 2022 to address gender-based violence facilitated by technology. However, tech companies must step up. It is not enough to claim neutrality or blame the data. They hold the power to design AI systems with built-in protections, safety-by-design measures, and accountability protocols that can prevent online abuse.
Changeincontent perspective: AI for women, AI for all
Artificial Intelligence is not neutral. It reflects the biases of those who build it. Right now, we are designing AI in a world where gender bias still thrives. The Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse is a step in the right direction. Still, if AI is truly to serve everyone, then we must ensure that we build it with fairness, accountability, and inclusivity at its core.
From erasing digital harassment to eliminating algorithmic bias, AI must work for women, not against them. The future is digital, but who gets to shape it? The answer must include women, gender minorities, and all those often left out of tech’s decision-making rooms.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content. We broadly define inclusivity as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
