Content :
- Big Tech’s fail — unsafe online spaces for women
- Time for action
Big Tech’s fail — unsafe online spaces for women
Context :
- After Kamala Harris’s nomination for the U.S. presidential elections, she faced intense AI-driven harassment and disinformation.
- Attacks included manipulated videos, memes, and derogatory content targeting her character, race, and qualifications.
Relevance: GS 1 (Society ), GS 2(Social Justice ).
Practice question: Critically assess Big Tech’s role in enabling unsafe online spaces for women in leadership. Suggest measures to strengthen digital safety for women. (150 words )
Gender-targeted Digital Harassment:
- The harassment included deepfakes and trolling from prominent figures with explicit and racially offensive content widely circulated.
- This represents a broader issue affecting high-profile women globally, from Kamala Harris to Giorgia Meloni.
Big Tech’s Failure in Moderation:
- Platforms have not effectively curbed degrading content, relying on “safe harbour” protections to evade accountability.
- A study by Amnesty International found that Twitter failed to take action on 70% of abusive tweets reported by women in the UK and the US.
- Despite having the technology, Big Tech often fails to implement sufficient safety measures, allowing harmful content against women to proliferate.
Disparity on Women:
- Online abuse against women is distinctly personal and often sexualised, affecting their dignity and mental well-being.
- Male figures face criticism on actions or policies, but women encounter attacks on appearance, body, and personal life, reflecting deep-seated gender bias.
Technology’s Illusion of Empowerment:
- While technology is seen as a tool for empowerment, AI often perpetuates societal biases and stereotypes, amplifying digital abuse.
- With limited female representation in AI development, platforms mirror and even reinforce gender biases. For example, According to the World Economic Forum, only 22% of AI professionals globally are female
Consequences for Everyday Women:
- Online harassment can lead to women withdrawing from digital spaces or having their access restricted by family, limiting career and public engagement.
- This exacerbates the digital divide and social inequality, hindering women’s personal and professional growth.
- According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, 51% of women have experienced online harassment
Call for Accountability Among Tech Platforms:
- Big Tech must take greater responsibility for content moderation, with proactive measures to remove harmful content.
- Reliance on users to report issues is inadequate, and platforms should bear the onus of moderating harmful content.
Recommended Solutions:
- Enhanced Content Moderation: Big Tech should invest in advanced safety features and faster response times for harmful content.
- Strict Fines and Limitations: Platforms should face penalties, such as fines or temporary operational limitations if they fail to ensure user safety.
- Increased Female Representation in Tech: More women in AI and tech roles can contribute to more inclusive and gender-sensitive digital solutions.
- Bias Testing and Simulation Exercises: Routine checks for gender biases in AI systems and testing for risks in simulations can help create fairer, safer AI tools.
- Policy and Regulatory Guardrails: Governments should set clear policies that mandate accountability, transparency, and ethical practices in digital spaces.
Conclusion:
Creating a safer online environment for women is essential for upholding their dignity and enabling true empowerment in the digital age.
Time for action
Context :
The annual climate conference, this time in Baku, Azerbaijan, will focus on global commitments to mitigating climate change.
Relevance GS 3 (Environment )
Practice Question How does the Baku conference serve as a pivotal platform for advancing global climate mitigation efforts? (150 words )
Urgency of Emission Reduction:
- Scientific assessments state that to keep global warming below 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels, emissions must:
- Peak by 2025.
- Decline by 43% by 2030.
- Current national commitments predict only a 2.6% decrease in emissions by 2030 compared to 2019, far below the necessary reduction.
Current Emission Levels:
- Global emissions have risen annually, reaching 53 billion metric tonnes in 2023, except for the temporary dip in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Developed vs. Developing Countries Dilemma:
- Rich nations are reluctant to reduce their high-energy lifestyles.
- Developing nations are attempting to achieve economic growth while minimising reliance on fossil fuels.
- This balance remains challenging due to the high costs associated with renewable energy adoption.
Climate Finance and Its Challenges:
- At the 2009 Copenhagen Summit, developed countries pledged $100 billion annually by 2020 to support developing countries in transitioning to clean energy.
- Lack of a clear definition for ‘climate finance’.
- Delays in the financial crediting and distribution system result in goals and frustration among developing nations.
Paris Agreement and New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG):
- The Paris Agreement mandates setting a new climate finance goal by 2025, with $100 billion as the minimum benchmark.
- Developed nations suggest major economies like China and India should also contribute due to their significant emissions and economic scale.
- NCQG is expected to be a primary discussion point at Baku.
Role of Carbon Markets:
- Carbon markets are promoted as a potential solution for climate financing.
- Mechanism:
- Developed countries fund renewable energy and carbon offset projects in developing countries and earn tradeable credits
- However, establishing clear, fair accounting rules for carbon credits is a complex issue that remains unresolved.
Legal Complexities of Climate Negotiations:
- Climate negotiations are mired in legal details, often obstructing progress on emission reduction goals.
- Rather than further delaying action with debates, there is an urgent need for transparent, actionable commitments.
Conclusion :
- The continuous rise in emissions highlights the inadequacy of current measures.
- Shifting the focus to real, substantial actions on climate finance, equitable carbon markets, and binding commitments is crucial for effective climate mitigation.
