New Delhi,India – AI's rise has reshaped online harassment,with Muslim women often targeted. Samreen Ayoub, a freelance model from Kashmir,found herself caught in this disturbing wave. She stumbled upon a fake video about her life on social media. AI-generated narration and doctored images from her university days painted her as a woman involved in illicit activities.
Ayoub, 24, called it “proper stalking.” video twisted her personal life, even tagging her brother as her “pimp.” So realistic, she feared her family might believe it. “It looked so real that if someone,even my parents,saw the video,they would think it was real,” she said .
Researchers see this as part of a bigger trend. AI is being used to create sexualized imagery and propaganda against Muslim women. A Center for Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) study analyzed over 1,300 AI-generated images and videos, showing Muslim women depictions racked up more than 6.7 million interactions. Zenith Khan, coauthor of study, pointed out how easily hostile narratives morph into realistic visuals with generative AI.
Meri Trustline,an online safety helpline,has seen more cases of digitally manipulated content. Since starting in 2022,they've handled over 482 cases,about 10% involving AI-generated material. Salman Mujawar,a front-line counselor,noted many victims stay silent due to shame and fear,complicating public response.
Ayoub's ordeal shows how fast harmful content spreads. Once the video was out, she faced a torrent of abusive comments and threats. “It felt like digital lynching,” she said, underscoring the harsh effects of online harassment. CSOH findings also uncovered AI-generated memes sexualizing Muslim women, often showing them with Hindu men in derogatory ways.
Researchers argue this isn't just misogyny. It's rooted in political discourse. Sahana Udupa, media anthropologist, calls it a “pornification of politics.” Right-wing digital cultures use humor and sexualized imagery to normalize abuse against women and minority groups. Soma Basu, writing in South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal, noted Muslim women's bodies have become battlegrounds for communal dominance.
This troubling trend has echoes in past incidents like the “Sulli Deals” and “Bulli Bai” controversies,where Muslim women were targeted with doctored images for virtual auctions. Public outrage followed,leading to police investigations and arrests. But accused got bail soon after.
As AI tech becomes more accessible,harassment's scale and speed have ramped up . Atif Rasheed,a politician with ruling BJP, acknowledged AI's dual nature,calling for stronger regulations to curb its misuse. He condemned deepfakes and sexually explicit content but avoided framing it as a religious issue, insisting BJP respects women of all faiths.
Tech’s intersection with gender-based violence presents big challenges,especially for marginalized communities . As digital world shifts,need for effective measures to protect individuals from AI-driven harassment grows more urgent…
