Generative AI apps are being used to unfairly target women online, and according to a recent study, this is forcing women out of their careers and the public sphere. 1 in 4 women have experienced anxiety and depression as a result of receiving unwanted sexts and images, and there is growing concern about the production of deepfake content without consent.
Deepfake content is typically AI-generated images and videos that replace the original porn actor's face with a real person's or a celebrity’s likeness, making it appear that they are engaging in sexual activity.
This is considered a form of AI-assisted rape because the content is being produced without consent from the person whose likeness has been used.
Due to the rising number of cases, the UK government has criminalised deepfake images and the tools used to produce them, with their developers facing up to three years' imprisonment.
However, only 10% of reports have resulted in successful criminal charges, suggesting that there is still a long way to go before crimes of this nature are consistently taken seriously in our courtrooms.
Ending Cyberflashing is also being prioritised under the Online Safety Act, placing responsibility on online platforms to intercept messages like this before they reach the intended recipient.
Yet the increased production of this type of content demonstrates a concerning disregard for women that is reflected in the rise of the manosphere and incel culture.
It’s important to create an online space where women and girls are free from exploitation and abuse, and whether a sexual act occurs in person or online, it’s possible for victims to feel violated by their experience.
Raising awareness of the varied negative consequences suffered by victims of sexual crimes is an easy way to help perpetrators understand the impact of their actions and hopefully choose differently in the future.
As already established, these crimes can have a severe impact on mental health, and in addition to those experiencing anxiety and depression, 13% of survey recipients were also found to be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
However, there are various other ways women have found that they changed their behaviour following their negative experience, including self-censoring at work and on social media.
Some might question why it matters that it forces women to censor themselves online, but individual freedom of speech should not be impacted because of choices made by others, and women should be free to live their lives publicly and proudly, without fear of finding themselves physically exposed.
Written by Leah Marie Cox
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