What happens when technology becomes a weapon against women? In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) and social media shape our daily lives, the rise of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) threatens women’s safety and freedom online.
Dr Grace Githaiga, CEO KICTANet was a guest on Her Media Diary with Dr Yemisi Akinbobola where she spoke about “The Dark Side of Tech: Understanding technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and how AI, social media, and tech companies impact women’s safety online.
Dr. Githaiga defines TFGBV as “violence that is enabled by technology,” such as harassment via social media, email, or phone. Reflecting on her 2012 research, she notes, “There is an increase of technology-facilitated gender-based violence because more people are utilising the internet.”
AI, especially generative tools, has worsened this by simplifying the creation of non-consensual imagery, like deepfake pornography, intensifying trauma for women.
Legal Gaps and the Need for Change
Dr. Githaiga highlights a key issue: “We have laws that support issues of online violence, but they are not specific to gender.”
Current legal frameworks struggle to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology, leaving women vulnerable to online harm.
Dr. Githaiga calls for multistakeholder collaboration, uniting governments, tech companies, and civil society to co-create policies that prioritise safety-by-design and human oversight in AI systems.
“We need to keep these conversations alive and push for criminalisation of TFGBV,” she urges.
READ
- Understanding Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Kenya: Legal Gaps, Harmful Language, and the Path Forward
- Kenya’s Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Legal Gaps Demand Urgent Reform
Practical Steps for Digital Safety
For activists, journalists, and content creators worried about online targeting, Dr. Githaiga advises practicing cyber hygiene: regularly updating passwords, signing out of platforms, and avoiding engagement with trolls.
“Don’t feed trolls,” she emphasises.
She also encourages reporting incidents to platforms and law enforcement to raise awareness.
For those passionate about digital rights, she says, “The more, the merrier… There is still so much to be done.”
Hope for a Safer Digital Future
What fuels Dr. Githaiga’s optimism? “The fact that we have more people engaging in the issues… lawmakers are interested, and we are creating awareness, especially with young people.”
Ongoing conversations and growing awareness give her hope that collaborative solutions will emerge.
As Dr. Githaiga reminds us, “It’s about reshaping the digital world with empathy, equity, and intention.”
Don’t miss the full conversation! Watch the complete episode at africanwomendia.com to dive deeper into Dr. Githaiga’s insights on building a safer digital future.