How AI worsens online violence against Middle East women

Female journalists and activists in the Middle East often face online harassment from male individuals who claim to be readers, according to Kholoud al-Ameri, an Iraqi journalist. Syrian activist Yaman Amer has received hundreds of critical comments after discussing women's rights online in a patriarchal society. Studies indicate that about 40% to 60% of women worldwide have experienced online harassment, with a higher-than-global average among Middle Eastern women.

In the Middle East, 68% of women have dealt with technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), and almost all have witnessed it.

AI-powered applications are exacerbating the problem, potentially spreading targeted disinformation, image-based abuse, and deepfake pornographic videos. In 2026, Elon Musk's SpaceXAI released an AI chatbot that could alter photographs, leading to a scandal that restricted its services. However, safeguards across different AI models are inconsistent, allowing users to find work-arounds.

The increase in AI-generated fakes poses serious implications in conservative Middle Eastern cultures, where the threat of half-naked images being published can lead to real-life consequences related to honor, family reputation, and male control. Legal protection and reporting options are limited, with only about 7% of women reporting technology-facilitated violence to law enforcement. Women often block perpetrators and become more cautious about their online activity, or even delete their accounts altogether.