United Nations Western Europe’s Post

Thousands of women and girls have experienced gender-based violence through deepfake abuse, and rapidly advancing technologies are exacerbating the problem. The fallout from creating and sharing these nonconsensual images is immense, going beyond personal harm. Urgent action is needed to protect women and girls from this growing threat, and effective legislation is a critical starting point. Thank you, Ms. Magazine, for highlighting the work of The Reclaim Coalition, powered by Panorama, as they work across sectors to end image-based sexual violence. https://bit.ly/3xXZsEC Learn more about The Reclaim Coalition: https://bit.ly/3wf7WGQ Andrea Powell #SAAM #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth

On the last day of #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth it is fitting to highlight this op-ed in Ms. Magazine (that I worked on with my colleagues from The Reclaim Coalition!). Read on to see *why* we need a national legislative framework to stop the rise of AI-fueled online sexual violence ASAP. ❗Women represent 99% of those targeted by deepfake sexual violence (it's not pornography if it's nonconsensual) ⁉ Nonconsensual deepfake content makes up 98% of all deepfake videos online. ‼‼ In 2023 alone, the volume of deepfake abuse videos surpassed the total of all previous years combined, with the number of nonconsensual videos doubling annually. Thousands of women and girls have experienced this form of gender-based violence already. It’s time to amplify our voices and demand action from our leaders. We must urge them to take immediate steps to protect all women and girls from the growing threat of nonconsensual deepfake content, because unfortunately we are all - including our friends, colleagues, family - at risk. Learn more about The Reclaim Coalition's work and support it: https://bit.ly/3wf7WGQ Andrea Powell

Online Abuse Against Women: Time to Act The rise of online abuse against women is a concerning trend that cannot be ignored. The recent article from Press and Journal sheds light on the experiences of women facing violence and harassment on social media platforms. It's alarming how this behavior is becoming increasingly prevalent, especially towards women in public roles. As a society, we must take action to address this issue. The "Halt the Hate" campaign is a step in the right direction(my opinion). It's time to raise awareness, hold perpetrators accountable, and create safer online spaces for everyone. What else can we do to combat online abuse and create a more inclusive and respectful digital world?⚖️ #HaltTheHate #OnlineAbuse #GenderEquality https://lnkd.in/eB8BvCvG

🌍💔 Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Violence against women remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations, impacting 1 in 3 women globally. It manifests not only in physical and sexual violence but increasingly in online spaces, where digital violence is rising at alarming rates. 💻 Cyber violence includes threats, harassment, image-based abuse and forgeries, and it is not separate from offline violence. It is deeply interconnected and rooted in systemic inequality between women and men. It silences women, isolates survivors, and denies them access to safe digital spaces - a critical part of today’s world. 🌐 On this important day, we urge everyone to take action to: 👉 Challenge violence against women and girls in all its forms, online and offline. 👉 Advocate for the transposition of the EU Directive on violence against women, which addresses cyber violence as a crime. 👉 Hold Big Tech accountable to create safer, more inclusive platforms for all users. Together, we can demand a future where no woman has to fear violence—neither in her home, her workplace, nor online. 💪 Join us in these #16Days to raise awareness and inspire action. Together, we can #OrangeTheWorld and #EndVAW once and for all. Let’s make change happen, because women and girls everywhere deserve a life free from violence. 💖 #16DaysOfActivism #InternationalDayToEndVAW

What a historic moment. Today, the European Parliament adopted the first EU-wide law on combating violence against women, both offline and online. The text will include new offences for cyberviolences such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images (incl. deepfakes), cyber harassement or the unsolicited sharing of lewd images - so-called "cyberflashing”. This is something Bumble Inc. has consistently advocated for. This is a major milestone for a safer and more equal future for all. #cyberflashing #genderbasedviolence #CombatingVAWG #TacklingToxicity

Black women are 84% more likely to be harassed online. Yesterday, Deputy Director Asha Allen reminded everyone that Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) has a disproportionate impact on minoritised women at a timely event organised by The Brussels Binder and the UK Mission to the European Union. The panel, featuring renowned journalist and EU commentator Shada Islam and moderated by anti-harassment activist Myrthe Bovendeaard, focused on the definitions and current state of OGBV. Asha highlighted several key points: 🔹 Gender Equity: The ongoing failure to address gender equity in our society, with progress coming to a halt or even regressing. 🔹 NCII & Deepfake Technology: The lack of an victims-centred approach to addressing the spread of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) and the growing issue with deepfake technology and dedicated platforms perpetuating the objectification and sexualization of women and girls. 🔹 The need for a dual approach: Legal frameworks must be appropriate and proportionate as not all forms of OGBV meet the bar of illegality and therefore must be addressed through increased due diligence, whilst  protecting privacy, free expression and all fundamental rights. The recently adopted EU Directive on Gender-Based Violence also represents a significant step forward to tackle cyber violence. However, there are still areas for improvement, and we now count on the Member States in the implementation phase to fully protect against online GBV and avoid the unintended harms that could stem from the legislation! #OGBV #CyberViolence #Intersectionality #GBVDirective 

It's Day 3 of the #16DaysofActivism Against Gender-Based Violence. "The violence is real, even when it's virtual." Online abuse includes cyberstalking, sexual harassment, grooming for exploitation or abuse, image-based sexual abuse (‘revenge porn’), rape threats, doxxing, tech abuse in intimate partnerships, and much more. But what is "Doxxing"? This was a new one on me. This is when personal identifying information about an individual is made public, typically via the internet, and without that person's consent, with a mind to cause distress or create malicious intent. While this is a virtual act, the impact on victims is very real and can be just as harmful as any gender-based violence against women and girls. #16days #endviolenceagainstwomenandgirls

I stand firmly against all forms of violence, including gender-based violence. Social constructs often perpetuate unacceptable behaviors, particularly towards women. In today's digital age, technology offers platforms that can amplify both positive and negative actions. While technology brings many benefits, it also creates space for harmful behaviors targeting women and girls online. From stalking and bullying to sexual harassment, defamation, hate speech, and exploitation, the internet can enable these violations on a vast scale. How can we build a safer online space and society for all? Join the conversation and share your thoughts on men’s role as allies in combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence and shaping responsible digital culture. #OGBV #TFGBV #EndGBV

End Violence Against Women Coalition experts warn Ofcom are blocking a safer internet for women… 44 VAWG specialists and experts penned an open letter to Ofcom's CEO, Dame Melanie Dawes, raising concerns about the regulator's approach to combating illegal online content. They critique Ofcom for prioritising tech companies' concerns over the severe and disproportionate harm suffered by women and girls due to stalking, harassment, and image-based sexual abuse. The coalition calls out Ofcom for its business-centric approach, lack of preventive measures, ambiguous definition of illegal content, and overemphasis on reporting as a measure of harm. They argue that Ofcom's approach fails to address the broader societal impact of online violence against women and girls, including those from marginalised communities. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ePyZsbYU As an industry, we should be committed to supporting positive media that empowers others, and to actively challenge hatred. Read CAN’s #HateSpeech manifesto for guidance: https://lnkd.in/eb3QjvxM #InternetHarms #OnlineSafety #EndOnlineAbuse

Something so simple, yet very thoughtful.