The Indonesia AI Institute (IAII), in collaboration with UN Women, convened an Expert Group Meeting on AI and Women, bringing together experts, legal practitioners, academics, government representatives, and women’s rights advocates to discuss the growing threats posed by Artificial Intelligence to women’s safety in digital spaces. The forum served as an important platform for mapping emerging risks, identifying regulatory gaps, and fostering cross-sector collaboration to address rapidly evolving challenges.
The Rising Trend of Online Gender-Based Violence
Shinta Ressmy from SAFEnet highlighted an alarming trend: cases of Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) in Indonesia have increased significantly, from 900 reported cases in 2023 to 1,300 cases in 2024, and 2,300 cases in 2025. Artificial Intelligence has now become a new tool for perpetrators. Deepfake pornography alone accounted for 46 reported cases within the first three months of 2025, with AI-powered tools becoming increasingly accessible and affordable to the general public.
Nenden Sekar Arum and Nurul Fazrie emphasized that addressing these issues remains difficult because existing legal frameworks are not yet capable of comprehensively covering AI-enabled crimes. Among the most alarming findings were cases involving victims as young as six years old, the continued tendency of global technology platforms to shift responsibility onto users, and the unauthorized use of public figures’ images in digitally manipulated content.
Women: The Most Affected, Yet the Least Heard
Data indicates that approximately 60% of victims of technology-facilitated sexual violence are women. Dwi Juliawati from UN Women described this situation as a manifestation of human rights violations rooted in inadequate governance and accountability mechanisms. Iim Fahima from IAII added that as long as decision-makers lack sufficient awareness of these issues, the protection of women in digital spaces will continue to receive inadequate attention.
The discussion also highlighted a more fundamental concern: the majority of technologies are still developed without meaningful participation from women. Genuine inclusion is not merely about who uses technology, but also about who designs, develops, and governs it.
Regulatory Gaps and Digital Literacy Challenges
From a regulatory perspective, Dedy Permadi from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs noted that although Indonesia’s Law on Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS) is considered progressive, its implementation remains ineffective. Law enforcement officers often rely on weaker legal provisions, investigators frequently lack sufficient digital expertise, and there is still no clear framework defining accountability for AI-enabled crimes.
From an educational perspective, Derry Wijaya from Monash University emphasized that digital literacy must begin at an early age. Maulana Akbar from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) added that the challenge exists simultaneously at three levels: individual, societal, and governmental. Meanwhile, AI technology continues to advance at a pace far exceeding the preparedness of institutions, regulations, and public understanding.