Gender Inclusion Must Be at the Heart of AI

Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world, but it’s also amplifying old harms in new ways. The rise of AI has supercharged digital abuse—accelerating its speed, scale, and sophistication. In Hong Kong, children are four times more likely to experience online sexual harassment than in real life. Globally, 99  per cent of individuals targeted by deepfake pornography are women.  

When innovation advances without sufficient consideration for inclusion and safety, women and girls are disproportionately affected. 

Women and girls often face harassment across multiple channels, yet fragmented reporting systems create unnecessary barriers. This lack of coordination reflects a broader failure to prioritise user safety—especially for those most vulnerable to technology‑facilitated violence. 

Offline, the challenges persist. Victims of technology-facilitated abuse frequently face secondary victimisation when seeking help. In South Korea, one woman reporting group‑chat harassment was asked to sift through explicit messages herself—an ordeal that compounded her trauma. Loose regulations and limited institutional support make these experiences even more painful.  

Technological misuse—image‑based abuse, cyberstalking, and online bullying—extends far beyond the digital sphere. It infiltrates schools, workplaces, and communities. To build safer spaces, we must empower women and girls to participate fully in society and recognise the emotional and social toll of digital abuse. Inclusion is not a side issue—it’s the foundation of ethical innovation. 

As an international hub, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to lead by example. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) has taken important steps to strengthen online privacy by co-signing a statement on deep fake misuse. An upcoming public consultation on sexual offence laws also marks an important milestone.  

At TWF we are working to build an ecosystem that empowers women and girls to thrive in the digital space. Through our Girls Go Tech and Path to Empowerment programmes, we equip underserved secondary school girls and grassroots women with essential digital skills. Our Young Allies and Male Allies programmes inspire participants to become active bystanders and advocates for inclusion within their spheres of influence. 

Here’s how everyone can help strengthen this ecosystem: 

• Parents and teachers: Encourage healthy online habits and open conversations about what it means to be a responsible digital citizen. Help children understand how to protect themselves and others in online spaces. 

• Social media users: Reinforce safety across digital platforms by reporting harmful content and sharing constructive feedback to improve reporting systems and platform accountability. 

• Support TWF’s mission: Join us in co‑creating a gender‑equal future. Collaborate with our programmes to advance gender awareness across industries and champion inclusivity in every digital space. 

Together, we can build a safer, more equitable digital ecosystem—one where innovation empowers everyone.