Description

Is the abuse worth it? A growing body of research suggests women in public life are facing a wave of online harassment that has been amplified by artificial intelligence, deepfakes and coordinated misinformation campaigns. In this episode of Global Roaming, Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke examine the implications for democracy.  If women are increasingly targeted with sexualised abuse, fake images and threats of violence, will fewer choose to enter public life? Australian journalist and academic Dr Julie Posetti, who led a landmark UN study on online violence against women in public life, explains how AI is changing the threat landscape and why research is drawing links between online abuse and real-world harm. Former NSW minister Bronnie Taylor reflects on her own experience of abuse in politics and why she fears the problem could deter women from putting their hands up for elected office. Could online misogyny be reshaping democracy itself? And what can governments, regulators and technology companies do about it? Guests: Dr Julie Posetti, journalist, academic and UN researcher Bronnie Taylor, former NSW Nationals minister and Women for Election advisory board member Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Summary

This investigation highlights how generative AI and deepfakes are escalating gender-based harassment and coordinated misinformation campaigns against women in public office. The content explores the systemic threat these AI-enabled harms pose to democratic participation, potentially deterring women from leadership roles. It connects individual online abuse to broader real-world harms and political instability, framing AI safety not just as a technical challenge but as a critical governance issue for maintaining representative government. The discussion emphasizes the need for Australian and global regulatory frameworks to address the weaponization of frontier AI capabilities in digital spaces.

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