At the 2024 Organizational Security Village (OrgSecVillage) hosted by Internews in Portugal, experts gathered to discuss “Perspectives from the Global Majority – The Rise of Deep Fakes and AI-Generated Disinformation as a Threat to Women’s Safety, Well-Being, and Freedoms Online.” The panel examined the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), gender-based violence (GBV), and digital security, addressing the increasing risks to women, non-binary individuals, and other intersectional groups. With technology advancing rapidly, the tools used to target these communities are evolving as well, with deepfakes and AI-driven disinformation adding complexity to the digital threats they already face.
Two panelists, PatyMori from Marialab in Brazil and Anais Cordova from Ecuador’s Navegando Libres, shared their perspectives on promoting digital security and resilience within their communities.
PatyMori, representing the non-profit feminist organization Marialab, explained their approach to sustainable capacity building as a process rooted in collective responsibility and ongoing learning. For Marialab, digital security is not simply about following set procedures. Instead, it is about creating an environment where individuals are encouraged to engage deeply with technology.
“As security auditors, part of our role is to understand the unique context and needs of each person or organization we work with, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model,” Paty explained, noting the importance of adapting digital security practices to each user’s reality.
She also pointed to the value of autonomy.
“We see autonomy as essential for developing digital protection strategies. It’s about empowering individuals and organizations to make informed decisions based on the knowledge they’ve acquired.”
Anais Cordova, whose work with Navegando Libres began in 2017, described a feminist support framework focused on three layers of protection – physical, psychological, and digital. She sees this approach as essential for equipping victim-survivors with tools they can rely on in the future and for building resilience in ways that confront knowledge gaps around technology.
“We see methodologies as a foundation for building relationships and community in a way that removes fear of technology, embracing critical and creative approaches instead,” she shared, underscoring her commitment to integrating holistic, decolonial feminist perspectives into digital rights support.
Reflecting on the digital security incidents reported in their respective regions, Anais noted that technology-facilitated sexual violence is frequently reported to Navegando Libres in Ecuador. She observed that virtual spaces often mirror real-world power dynamics, making the presence of sexual violence in digital spaces disturbingly common. Recognizing this trend has enabled her team to develop specific strategies to support survivors of digital violence, building on the lived experiences of those they assist.
Similarly, Paty pointed out that while Maria d’Ajuda’s data on incidents in Brazil is limited, they often encounter reports of email and social media account invasions, which are frequently tied to financial scams and extortion but also overlap with cases of online gender-based violence, including harassment and intimate image leaks.
Both Anais and Paty noted the critical need for accessible educational resources to address misinformation and the digital security knowledge gap, particularly among activists and human rights defenders.
“There is a shortage of reliable information, which only fuels panic among activists and human rights defenders,” PatyMori remarked, explaining that this scarcity has bolstered Marialab’s commitment to popular education on digital safety and the importance of thorough data analysis to drive advocacy efforts.
From her team’s digital security audits, Anais shared an important observation – many organizations and individuals have normalized certain forms of digital violence, often making it challenging for them to recognize their vulnerabilities.
“The most important observation from working with other organizations and collectives is how easily violence is naturalized,” she noted.
Yet, she was impressed by the resilience and creativity these groups display as they develop strategies to carry on their work despite the risks they face. For her, this resilience shows the importance of adaptive, flexible digital security approaches tailored to the needs of each organization or individual.
In reflecting on the panel’s broader discussion, both Paty and Anais explained the urgency of innovative solutions beyond public policy around digital sovereignty and corporate regulation. Digital threats are evolving, often disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, and their work emphasizes the need for localized, feminist-driven digital security approaches that address immediate threats while also building a foundation for long-term resilience and empowerment. Their insights illustrate how a holistic and context-sensitive approach to digital security can protect and empower those facing ongoing digital and real-world challenges.
