Introduction
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every domain of life—but when it comes to gender-based violence (GBV), its impact is both empowering and alarming. While AI is increasingly used to prevent and respond to abuse through predictive analytics and victim support, it is simultaneously being weaponized in ways that exacerbate harm—particularly through deepfakes, online stalking, and algorithmic discrimination.
This article explores both dimensions of AI’s role in GBV: how it's used to combat violence—and how it's being exploited to perpetuate it.
The Rise of AI-Powered Abuse Tools
1. Deepfakes and Non-Consensual Imagery
One of the most chilling manifestations of AI in GBV is the creation of synthetic media:
Deepfake pornography: AI tools can map a woman’s face onto an adult film actor’s body with alarming realism, often without her consent. These videos have been used for harassment, blackmail, and reputational damage.
Fake nudes apps: Widely accessible AI software can digitally undress women in photos—creating entirely fake nude images used to intimidate or shame.
▶️ In a 2024 study, 96% of publicly available deepfake porn targeted women, while 100% of perpetrators were male.
2. AI in Stalking and Surveillance
Facial recognition: Abusers have used open-source or commercially available AI-powered recognition tools to track and monitor victims through public security cameras or social media photos.
Predictive location tracking: AI can infer someone's movement patterns and predict future locations—posing new risks to individuals fleeing domestic abuse.
Algorithmic Bias and Discrimination in Legal Systems
AI systems used in law enforcement and social services often inherit human biases present in their training data:
Underreporting female victims: AI-based risk assessment tools may fail to recognize the complexity of abuse, particularly emotional or economic violence, leading to dismissal of female survivors' complaints.
Racial and gender bias: If an algorithm is trained on historical police data—which may underrepresent marginalized communities—it can reinforce harmful stereotypes about who is a victim and who is a perpetrator.
How AI is Helping in the Fight Against GBV
Despite these challenges, AI also offers tools to mitigate GBV:
1. Early Intervention Systems
Predictive analytics: AI can analyze social media, police records, and text messages to flag patterns of coercive behavior or threats.
Hotline support bots: Chatbots powered by natural language processing can engage abuse survivors anonymously, providing immediate help, legal advice, or mental health support.
▶️ UN Women and various NGOs have begun deploying AI-based platforms in crisis zones to identify at-risk women through behavioral data.
2. Image and Video Detection
AI tools like Microsoft’s PhotoDNA and Google's Content Safety API are helping remove non-consensual images, CSAM, and revenge porn from online platforms.
3. Monitoring Online Harassment
AI is used by social platforms to identify hate speech, threats, and doxing in real-time.
Automated moderation tools can mute or report users targeting others with gendered abuse, though not without false positives or negatives.
Case Study: South Korea’s “Nth Room” Incident
In a high-profile case, tech-savvy perpetrators used encryption, anonymous networks, and AI tools to manipulate and threaten women into producing sexual content. Investigators later deployed AI-powered forensic analysis to trace these digital crimes, unearth deleted content, and arrest multiple offenders.
This case illustrated both the danger of AI-enabled abuse and the potential of AI in bringing justice to survivors.
Ethical and Policy Considerations
AI Regulation for Gender Safety: Gender impact assessments must be mandatory in the development of AI systems, especially those used in surveillance or social services.
Platform Accountability: Tech platforms need stricter rules around synthetic media, with proactive AI screening for harmful content.
Privacy Protection: Survivors' data must be handled with extreme care, ensuring AI tools do not compromise anonymity or security.
Conclusion
AI’s intersection with gender-based violence is a moral crossroads. While it offers powerful means to prevent harm and deliver justice, its dark side is equally potent—empowering abusers with tools of manipulation, surveillance, and psychological control. The future of AI and GBV lies in how we govern its usage, educate its developers, and protect its victims.
Without proper safeguards, AI could become a tool of oppression. But with thoughtful design, legislation, and activism, it can be a transformative force for safety, dignity, and gender justice.
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