In a recent interview with The Regulatory Review, women’s human rights expert Rangita de Silva de Alwis explored the troubling phenomenon of online gender-based violence, highlighting how digital spaces can foster both community and abuse. She asserts that while online platforms connect individuals, they also create avenues for manipulation and aggression, reinforcing existing power imbalances that harm women and girls directly and indirectly. The unique nature of online abuse, characterized by anonymity and rapid dissemination, poses serious regulatory challenges, differing from traditional forms of violence.
De Silva de Alwis raises concerns over new technologies, like artificial intelligence, being misused to create harmful content such as deepfakes. Apart from individual repercussions, she warns that these digital assaults can deter women from participating in public life, undermining their societal roles. She advocates for integrating a gendered lens into international legal frameworks to address these vulnerabilities, notably through her involvement in drafting the Cybercrime Convention aimed at countering technology-driven crimes against women.
As an academic at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of multiple influential human rights bodies, de Silva de Alwis has extensive experience tackling these issues. In her conversation, she outlines the spectrum of online gender-based violence, citing examples like cyberstalking and non-consensual image sharing. Moreover, she describes how AI exacerbates these threats by fostering environments where abusers collaborate and share techniques for inflicting harm.
Discussing the effects of online violence, de Silva de Alwis indicates that it has grave consequences on women’s mental and physical health, contributing to self-harm and discouraging their political aspirations. She points out that gendered online hate speech contributes to diminishing women’s voices in civic spaces, often resulting in their withdrawal from public life. Women leaders, journalists, and activists face the double burden of online abuse due to their challenge against established power structures.
In her contributions to the Cybercrime Convention, she stresses that while not inherently gendered, data breaches can have disproportionately severe impacts on women. Past incidents in Brazil and Chile illustrate how breaches of personal information can expose women to significant risks, especially concerning reproductive health. Furthermore, she highlights how social media has become a new tool for human trafficking, particularly targeting women and girls through deceptive practices.
Addressing the intersection of human rights and cybersecurity, de Silva de Alwis emphasises the need for laws that protect the rights of women at risk. The draft convention must align national security interests with human rights protections, particularly for the most vulnerable communities. She illustrates how gender always plays a critical role, as enshrined in Article 5 of the convention, setting the groundwork for more inclusive legislative action.
Calling for diverse expertise in tackling these digital challenges, she fosters a collaborative environment in her classes, engaging professionals from various fields to enrich discussions. Lastly, she warns of the impending challenges posed by AI-powered weapons systems, echoing concerns raised by UN Secretary-General António Guterres regarding their ethical implications. This forward-looking perspective urges consideration of gender equality as emerging technologies evolve, revealing the multifaceted nature of the issues at hand.
Rangita de Silva de Alwis discusses the nuances of online gender-based violence, highlighting its impact on women’s rights and societal roles. She identifies the misuse of technology, such as deepfakes, as a growing concern. De Silva de Alwis advocates for a gendered approach within international legal frameworks to tackle these challenges and emphasizes the need for collaboration among various stakeholders to effectively combat digital threats against women.
Rangita de Silva de Alwis’s insights reveal the complexities of online gender-based violence, intertwining technology’s potential for both connection and harm. The pervasive effects of this violence on women’s safety and societal participation underscore the urgent need for regulatory frameworks that are attuned to gendered impacts. By advocating for a gendered legal perspective, she emerges as a pivotal figure in the fight against cyber violence, ensuring that women’s rights remain at the forefront of digital discourse.
Original Source: www.theregreview.org
