The informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for equality, held on Wednesday 16 April in Warsaw (Poland), opened with a working session devoted to the fight against gender inequality in the digital sphere.
Chaired by the Polish minister, Katarzyna Kotula, the ministers discussed ways of ensuring equal participation in online spaces and combating the gender-based violence encouraged by the use of new technologies.
The discussions come at a pivotal time as the Commission prepares to renew its major strategies on gender equality, LGBTQI rights and the fight against racism for the period 2024-2029.
According to a working paper consulted by Agence Europe, European texts such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and AI legislation should provide a better framework for the practices of major platforms, in coordination with national legislation.
The Polish Presidency of the EU Council is calling for “platforms to be made responsible for the content they host”.
Earlier today, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, pointed out that women are still under-represented in the digital sector: “Eight out of ten information and communication technology specialists are men”. In her view, this imbalance explains “why so many platforms do not take gender perspectives into account”.
She also highlighted the gender bias that algorithms can exacerbate: “Women may be exposed to algorithmic discrimination in AI decision-making in areas such as job applications or bank loan applications, for example”.
Together with online harassment and the ‘deepfakes’ that can accompany it, they form a cluster of factors that limit women’s participation in public life.
The European Commissioner pointed out that the implementation of the 2024 European directive on combating violence against women (https://aeur.eu/f/ggb ) should make it possible to respond to cyber-violence.
These dynamics can also be fuelled by the spread of ‘masculinist’ ideas on social networks. Indeed, this content reinforces both gendered stereotypes and zero-sum vision of gender relations, fuelling an “us versus them mentality” and hostility towards women, both online and offline.
In addition, greater consideration was given to men and boys, who can also be victims and allies.
At the end of the day, Katarzyna Kotula told a press conference that men - especially men of colour, GBTQI men and disabled men - can be victims. But stereotypical expectations prevent them from asking for help. “Young men, boys, are very often exposed to this harmful content. Whether they’re looking for it or not. This affects their mental health, but it also shapes their opinions”. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)