Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543797
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 MARCH 2026 OPINION Letting AI strip women is a new form of gender-based violence IT takes seconds to destroy a woman's dignity online. Not because she chose to share some- thing intimate nor because she trusted the wrong person. But because someone decided to type a prompt into an artificial intelligence tool and an ordinary photo of a fully clothed person taken from social media, is in a mere second, stripped, sexualised and distributed to hundreds. There is no consent. No warning. No way to pull it back once it spreads. In just nine days, the Grok chatbot created and posted 4.4 million im- ages, of which nearly one in two were sexualised images of women, highlighting the pervasive nature of this violation. One woman recently shared that she felt "de- humanised and reduced to a sex- ual stereotype" af- ter Grok digitally removed her clothes. She said, "it looked like me, and it felt like me, and it felt as violating as if some- one had actually posted a nude pic- ture of me." Even if the image is fake, the violation is real. Anyone can be a victim. From women who speak out and hold positions of responsibility to wom- en who are visible and express their opinions. All women can be targeted because technology did not create hate; it just learned to automate it. This is sexual exploitation, blackmail, and vio- lence against women. Some call it digital rape. Hu- man dignity can be destroyed without anyone ever touching a body. The harm does not stop with the image. Wom- en become silent and withdraw, hesitating before posting, speaking, or running for office. Young girls learn early that being seen can lead to punish- ment. Thousands of women leave social platforms or abandon leadership roles annually due to har- assment. This not only silences individual voices but also deprives our community of varied view- points and potential leaders. Artificial intelligence is not the one to blame. That excuse is easy but not true. Algorithms do not work alone. Platforms make money from this. Grok reportedly made $88 million in the third quarter of 2025 and could make nearly $300 mil- lion this year. Abuse spreads because safeguards are weak, responses are slow, and responsibility keeps getting passed around. Europe has digital rules, but if they are not enforced, they are just for show. We have let systems move faster than jus- tice, and women are paying the price. Even X's own AI policy says people cannot be shown "in a pornographic manner" without consent. Still, these images keep circulating for months. Experts have warned that platforms would stop this abuse if they wanted to. Europe is not powerless unless it decides to be. We have the Digital Services Act, the Artificial In- telligence Act, and other laws, such as the recent directive combating violence against women. It is already illegal to create or share non-consen- sual intimate images, including AI-gen- erated sexual deepfakes. But too often, action only happens after public outrage. Content is taken down after the harm is done. Removing an image does not erase humiliation, bring back safety, or take away fear. Preven- tion must come be- fore the damage, not after. International Wom- en's Day (8 March) forces us to face this reality. If women's rights end at the digital border, then equality is only condi- tional. If consent can be negotiat- ed online, then dignity can be too. We can demand that illegal deepfake material is removed right away and that platforms face real consequences, or we can admit that the digital fu- ture still treats women's bodies as collateral dam- age. We cannot accept the latter future. When action is delayed, abusers win. When plat- forms hesitate, harm grows. When we look away, violence becomes normal. This International Women's Day, Europe must choose courage over comfort. Let's act now! WHEN I look at Marsaxlokk, I see far more than a port. I see a community whose life is tied to the sea. I admire the tradition that is passed down from one generation to the next, and the fishing sector that remains one of the most important pillars of our national identity. That is why we have announced a project that carries both stra- tegic and human significance— dredging works in the port of Marsaxlokk. For many years, our fishermen have been facing challenges that few people understand. The ac- cumulation of rocks and other material in the port's fairway has been creating serious difficulties for vessels entering and exiting the harbour. At times, boats were even hitting the seabed, causing damage and putting the safety of fishers at risk. Each time I speak with them, they point out that they face re- peated repairs, unexpected ex- penses, and constant worry about manoeuvrability, especially when the sea turns rough. So, when we began discussing this project, I was clear that we could not allow this situation to continue. The dredging will not only clean the fairway; it will final- ly give these men and women the conditions they deserve to work safely and efficiently. Access will improve for both small and larger vessels, meaning their daily oper- ations will become smoother and more predictable, even in chal- lenging weather. One aspect of this project that I am particularly proud of is the way we are reusing the material collected from the seabed. The sand removed during the dredg- ing will not be discarded; instead, it will be used to extend the beach at Għar Aħmar, a popular area for locals. This means that one project will deliver two benefits—a safer port and a more accessible beach. For me, this is a clear example of how infrastructure can be sustainable while directly improving the qual- ity of life of the local community. This project did not emerge overnight. It is the result of exten- sive consultation with fishers and the relevant authorities. We lis- tened to their concerns, especially regarding temporary relocation during the works, and we worked to ensure that their operations would not be disrupted. For me, the word 'collaboration' is not a slogan; it is a principle I believe in. When the communi- ty is part of the decision-making process, the outcome is always stronger. The dredging works will also re- duce damage to ropes, and chains. This means lower maintenance costs and greater stability in day- to-day operations. Ultimately, this project reflects our commitment to investing in essential infrastructure and strengthening the fishing sector. Marsaxlokk deserves a port that serves its community safely and sustainably. I believe this initiative, thanks to Infrastructure Malta and its dedicated workforce, will place Marsaxlokk in a stronger position for the future. For me, this is not just an infra- structural project; it is an invest- ment in people, in tradition, and the future of Maltese fishing. Protecting Marsaxlokk and its people Eleonora Meleti & David Casa Meleti is EPP coordinator in the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and Casa is head of the Maltese delegation in EPP Group Alicia Bugeja Said Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Animal Rights For me, this is not just an infrastructural project; it is an investment in people, in tradition, and the future of Maltese fishing. When action is delayed, abusers win. When platforms hesitate, harm grows. When we look away, violence becomes normal. This International Women's Day, Europe must choose courage over comfort. Let's act now!