The misuse of frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), voice cloning, and image and video engineering has led to a rise in social bullying and terrorist activities on social media platforms. Women and girls in Bangladesh are the primary victims of such incidents. In response, experts have proposed incorporating cyber norms, etiquette, and hygiene into the digital education curriculum from primary school levels to enhance digital literacy.
This recommendation was shared during a workshop and multilateral dialogue held on Wednesday at Amari Hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka. The hybrid event, titled “Technology-Driven Violence Against Women,” was organized by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Dhaka, with participants from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Speakers included Santosh Sedhai, co-founder of Digital Rights Nepal; Saradi Inugalbandara, program manager of Hashtag Sri Lanka; Fawzia Yazdani, a human rights activist from Pakistan; and Pinky Pradhan, representing UNFPA Bangladesh and UNI Indian.
In her address, Maliha Tabassum, an associate professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Bangladesh University of Professionals, warned of the grave consequences of AI-driven violence against women in Bangladesh. Presenting data from her research, she noted that “90 percent of women in the country are unaware of whether they or their images have been exploited through AI. Many women do not even know what AI is capable of.” She emphasized the urgency of taking proactive measures to combat this issue.
Dr. Eliza Azai, head of UNFPA Bangladesh, highlighted their efforts, saying, “UNFPA is providing technological support to BSS in combating misinformation. Results will be visible soon, and a qualitative analysis report is set to be released in early March.”
The workshop was moderated by Shamima Parveen, program specialist at UNFPA Dhaka. Other speakers included Ha Young Choi, technical specialist at UNFPA; Afrida Samiha Nabila, research assistant at BLAST; Ishrat Jahan Siddiqui, program officer at ActionAid; Dil Afroz Begum, finance secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad; Farzana Akter from Plan International; Glagi Muiga, coordinator at IRC; and Julkar Nayeem, research coordinator at Fact Watch.
The speakers underscored the need for increased digital literacy among adolescents and their guardians, awareness of anti-sexual harassment laws, and the ability to discern between misinformation and factual content. They also stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to promote social and psychological well-being.
Additionally, regional guidelines for digital platforms, particularly social media, were highlighted as a necessity. The participants recommended focusing on inter-ministerial coordination and cross-border connectivity to address these challenges. They called for a bottom-up approach to establish cyber awareness and security, emphasizing the need for a national cyber “positive approach” movement to combat harassment against women.
The activists further advocated for including provisions for compensation for women in the new cyber protection ordinance. They stressed that ensuring safety and security for women in cyberspace would require a collective effort from the government, citizens, and private organizations to mitigate the looming threats of technology-driven violence.
