AI has a “significant impact” on women and creates new “challenges and dangers” of digital violence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a tool with a “significant impact” on women and has generated new “challenges and dangers” that must be addressed in the context of digital violence.

This is the conclusion of the study “Violence against women, girls, boys and adolescents in the digital environment”, published by the Ministry of Equality through the Government Delegation against Gender Violence and carried out by the Association of Women Jurists Themis. Among other findings, the study highlights the lack of a single, universal definition of ‘digital violence’, which complicates, among other issues, its criminal regulation.

With regard to AI, for example, it must be considered that, due to its learning-based functioning, it can replicate bias, discrimination, and violate rights, leading to unfair decisions in areas such as employment, criminal justice, and access to services.

The study aims to analyze the specific characteristics of digital violence against women and minors, examine its impact, as well as the legal gaps and the existing regulatory framework. It emphasizes that digital violence is a constantly evolving phenomenon requiring a “comprehensive, regulatory, educational and technological” response to protect women and minors. The ultimate goal is to reduce risks and ensure a “safe and respectful” digital environment.

The report is divided into three main sections. The first explores the reality of digital violence, the second focuses on minors, and the third on the legislative framework. It highlights gender inequalities, perpetuating gender roles and patriarchal structures. UN research shows that over 73% of women have been exposed to or experienced some form of violence online, and 90% of victims of non-consensual distribution of sexually explicit intimate images are women.

In addition, early exposure to pornographic and violent content, combined with the lack of specific regulation, contributes to the normalization of harmful behaviors and affects the emotional and physical health of minors. Another factor the report underlines is the key role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the feminist movement.

These tools have become an “important” resource to organize collective action, give visibility to awareness and advocacy messages, and increase mobilization capacity. The report also notes that Spain has made legal progress through reforms that criminalize specific offenses such as grooming, sexting, harassment, distribution of child pornography, and crimes related to trafficking and sexual exploitation, including technological aspects.

Nevertheless, one of the persistent obstacles in combating digital violence affecting women and minors is the “lack of specialized training” with a gender perspective in the field of cybercrime, along with insufficient resources.

As improvement proposals, the report suggests defining digital violence, creating unified protocols, strengthening international cooperation, and criminalizing new offenses related to digital identity and AI-based manipulation. The study was funded by the Government Delegation against Gender Violence.