Civil Society Organizations Demand Big Tech Strengthen AI Policies to Fight Sexist and Misogynistic AI-Based Disinformation and Abuse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 4, 2024
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
Civil Society Organizations Demand Big Tech Strengthen AI Policies to Fight Sexist and Misogynistic AI-Based Disinformation and Abuse
Warn that Women, Girls, and LGBTQ+ Individuals Are Disproportionately Harmed by AI-Generated Content Online
Today, more than twenty-five major civil society organizations released an open letter to the CEOs of six social media companies – Meta, X, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit — urging them to strengthen their AI policies to fight sexist and misogynistic AI-based disinformation and abuse.
The letter warns that women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people are uniquely at risk of experiencing adverse impacts of AI-based content on social media, particularly under the weak policies on AI-generated content that the six platforms currently have. To fill that gap, the letter goes on to outline twelve specific steps that these companies should take towards adopting more transparent, clear, and robust AI policies that explicitly consider risks to all people with marginalized gender identities.
READ THE FULL LETTER HERE: https://weareultraviolet.org/ai-demands-fight-sexism/
The letter points to comprehensive research demonstrating the specific harms that AI-based systems, manipulated content, disinformation, scams, and algorithms have on women, girls and LGBTQ+ people, including:
- How they are most likely to be targets of sexual AI-based manipulation, which is a form of sexual abuse. Specifically, at least 90% of victims of AI-facilitated image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) are women;
- How women public figures such as celebrities and journalists are more likely to be targets of sexist and political disinformation than their male counterparts, which is increasingly being spread via AI-based content and search algorithms;
- How most researched AI systems hold a gender bias against women and girls and revert to sexist stereotypes;
- How older women are most likely to be targets of AI-powered scams and crimes;
- How women with intersecting marginalized gender identities are most likely to be targeted by disinformation, which is increasingly being spread via AI-based content and search algorithms.
The letter was organized by UltraViolet, the nation’s largest online feminist organization, and addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X CEO Linda Yaccarino, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman. The letter was signed by more than 25 civil society organizations, including Accountable Tech; Center for Intimacy Justice; Chayn; Civic Shout; Digital Defense Fund; Ekō; EndTAB; GLAAD; Glitch; Global Hope 365; Higher Heights for America; Institute for Strategic Dialogue; Joyful Heart Foundation; Kairos Fellowship; MPower Change; My Image My Choice; MyOwn Image; National Organization for Women; National Women’s Law Center; Progress Florida; ProgressNow New Mexico; Religious Community for Reproductive Choice; Reproaction; Rights4Girls; Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA), and Women’s March.
The twelve recommendations include guidance on classifying AI-based content under existing policies, creating more comprehensive disclosure and labeling for AI content, increasing users’ ability to flag and report harmful content, expanding resource platforms for people targeted by explicit non-consensual sexual deep fakes, and providing comprehensive annual audits of AI-content.
“Women, girls, and queer people have always had to suffer from sexually explicit harassment, non-consensual exploitation, and targeted disinformation and abuse; but AI-based technology has radically changed and supercharged these harms into a national epidemic,” explained Jenna Sherman, Campaign Director at UltraViolet. “These harms silence us online, violate our right to control our own image, and distort our elections – but worse, they normalize and even algorithmically codify sexual exploitation and reinforce harmful stereotypes about gender, sexuality, and consent. There are solutions – and Big Tech platforms can and must do better to protect women, girls and LGBTQ+ people online. We deserve safety in these spaces, and right now, our safety is not being taken seriously.”
“Nonconsensual distribution of intimate imagery can affect everyone from Taylor Swift to middle-school-aged girls. It has affected me,” shares Nina Jankowicz, Co-Founder of the American Sunlight Project and Former Executive Director of the Disinformation Governance Board of the United States. “While we wait for our legislators to pass common sense, bipartisan legislation to protect women’s rights, safety, and privacy online, it’s imperative that social media platforms introduce changes that ensure women and other marginalized communities have the same freedom and rights as our male counterparts.”
“AI technologies have further facilitated the creation and spread of gender-based harassment and abuse online, including the proliferation of non-consensual intimate image deepfakes,” said Ellen Jacobs, Senior US Digital Policy Manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. “We need effective policies that specifically address the heightened risks to women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people. Without them, we will continue to see an increase in sophisticated AI-generated content that jeopardizes the safety of online platforms.”
“We know that women, girls, and LGBTQ people already face disproportionate levels of abuse across social media,” said Leanna Garfield, Social Media Safety Program Manager at GLAAD. “What’s more, the world’s largest platforms have shown they are not equipped to handle the rise of AI-facilitated hate, harassment, and disinformation campaigns, including deepfakes and bots that can spew hate-based imagery at massive scale. Meta, X, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit need to take concrete action now, so that everyone can feel safe online.”
“Lack of accountability by Big Tech is causing big harm to women and girls. Women are the first to be exploited, attacked, and abused online in the most invasive ways possible—and with AI, what’s possible changes every day. Fighting sexism and misogyny must be integral to social media’s business model—their customers demand it.” Christian F. Nunes, President, National Organization for Women
“MyOwn Image urges social media platforms to adopt transparent AI policies that confront the disproportionate harm of AI-generated abuse on women, particularly women of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. This abuse erodes trust, perpetuates gendered violence, and threatens our democratic and social fabric.”
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