澳大利亚研究表明，女性政治家正面临日益严重的网络骚扰威胁。近90%的女性政治家经历过网络骚扰或恐吓，其中超过50%的受访者正在重新考虑是否继续从事公职[1]。75%的受访者认为过去两年这种情况已经加剧[1]。女性政治家遭遇的网络虐待形式多样，包括性骚扰、死亡威胁和深度伪造内容，尤其影响来自多元文化背景、LGBTQ+群体和年轻女性政治家[1]。
Women for Election首席执行官Licia Heath指出问题的严重程度，她表示："不是几百条强奸威胁，而是一晚上来自不同账户的6000条强奸威胁。AI正在以比民主或立法框架能应对更快的速度扩大虐待"[1]。65%的女性政治家已经经历或目睹过AI生成的虐待内容，98%认为这种情况会进一步恶化[1]。NSW警察局长Mal Lanyon指出，大多数违法者使用虚假身份进行骚扰[1]。此外，维州要求候选人在选举材料上公布住址的规定也被批评为存在安全隐患[1]。
研究机构呼吁科技平台采取行动应对这一问题，认为若不加以解决将威胁澳大利亚代议制民主的正常运作[1]。维州将于11月举行选举，NSW将于3月举行选举，联邦选举将在2028年前进行[1]。
Research from Women for Election has revealed an alarming prevalence of online harassment and threats targeting female politicians in Australia, with nearly 90% of women in political office reporting experiences of such abuse [1]. The findings indicate that more than half of surveyed respondents are reconsidering whether to continue their careers in public service [1]. The forms of online harassment faced by women politicians encompass sexual harassment, death threats, and artificially generated abusive content, with 65% of female politicians having encountered or witnessed AI-generated abuse material [1].
The severity of the problem has intensified significantly, with 75% of respondents indicating that online harassment directed at women politicians has worsened over the past two years [1]. The abuse disproportionately affects women from multicultural backgrounds, LGBTQ+ politicians, and younger female representatives [1]. Women for Election Chief Executive Officer Licia Heath stated: "It's not hundreds of rape threats, it's 6,000 rape threats in one night from different accounts. AI is scaling abuse faster than democracy or legislative frameworks can respond to it" [1]. Additionally, 98% of surveyed women politicians believe the situation will deteriorate further [1].
The research organization has called on technology platforms to take decisive action, warning that failure to address this issue threatens the functioning of Australia's representative democracy [1]. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon noted that most perpetrators of harassment use false identities [1]. Victoria's requirement that electoral candidates disclose their home addresses on campaign materials has drawn criticism as a security vulnerability [1]. The problem has emerged against the backdrop of upcoming elections in Victoria in November, NSW in March, and the federal election before 2028 [1].