{"id":342873,"date":"2025-10-01T11:22:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T11:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/?p=342873"},"modified":"2025-10-01T11:22:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T11:22:03","slug":"ai-at-the-service-of-abuse-shame-belongs-to-the-perpetrator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/ai-at-the-service-of-abuse-shame-belongs-to-the-perpetrator\/","title":{"rendered":"AI at the Service of Abuse: Shame Belongs to the Perpetrator"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of violence against women: all over the world, and increasingly in Southeast Europe, women are being targeted with sexualized deepfakes and AI-generated images. This abuse remains largely hidden due to stigma, low awareness, and weak institutional response.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By: Maida Salkanovi\u0107<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Across the world, individuals, companies, and governments are racing to harness artificial intelligence to cut costs, boost efficiency, and drive innovation. Yet the same tools are also being weaponized: powering scams, accelerating the spread of disinformation, and creating ever more convincing fakes. One of the most pervasive misuses of AI is the creation of sexualized deepfake videos and AI-generated images of women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/a> by the deepfake-tracking company Sensity AI shows a consistent pattern: since 2018, between 90 and 95 percent of all deepfakes have been non-consensual pornography, and around 90 percent feature women. This digitalized form of violence is not confined to private harassment but it is increasingly deployed against public figures and used to discredit female politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altered images of Italian female politicians, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, surfaced on a porn site<\/a> in August 2025. In the United States, a study<\/a> identified more than 35,000 deepfake images of members of Congress, with women found to be 70 times more likely to be targeted than their male colleagues. While Southeast Europe has not yet seen such high-profile cases, the incidents that have emerged suggest the problem is already present, just less visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In several countries across the region, cases of sexualized AI-modified imagery have already come to light through the work of journalists and activists. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, police uncovered<\/a> AI-generated child abuse material, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. The perpetrator was part of a worldwide network that subscribed to AI-generated images produced by a Danish citizen. According to a BIRN report<\/a>, other cases in Bosnia have involved adult women, and incidents of AI-generated sexual imagery have been reported to the police and to a helpline in Banja Luka. In Serbia<\/a>, journalists uncovered large Telegram groups with tens of thousands of men exchanging nude, digitally altered photographs of women. Meanwhile, in Kosovo<\/a>, a young woman\u2019s image was manipulated into sexually explicit content and circulated on TikTok, where she was labeled as a \u201cwhore.\u201d This resulted in multiple messages from different users asking her for more sexual content. These examples demonstrate that although AI-driven image abuse has not yet entered mainstream public debate, it is already happening in private spaces, and we only hear about it when it is exposed by the police, journalists, or activists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEE Check spoke with six organizations dedicated to women\u2019s rights, including in the digital sphere, across Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro, to learn about their experiences and whether such cases appear in their work. Only one, Serbia\u2019s Autonomous Women\u2019s Center (A\u017dC), reported that women had occasionally approached them about AI-generated sexualized content. Even then, such cases remain rare compared to the far more common problem of intimate images shared without consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have not often had cases of women turning to us because of artificially generated content. Far more frequently they reach out over real intimate material shared without their consent. Still, such cases are on the rise,\u201d said Sanja Pavlovi\u0107<\/strong> of the Autonomous Women\u2019s Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Croatia, Dajana Pul Bo\u0161njakovi\u0107<\/strong> from the organization BABE noted that their center has dealt with many forms of abuse, from perpetrators ranging from employers to spouses, and involving surveillance, hacking, and non-consensual image sharing\u2014yet, so far, no reports of AI-generated content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Bosnia, Denija Hidi\u0107<\/strong> from the Sarajevo-based CURE Foundation explained that her team had expected such cases to emerge during the last local elections, given that political contexts often provide fertile ground for this type of abuse. \u201cBut that did not happen,\u201d she said. The Zagreb-based \u017denska soba and Sarajevo Open Center (SOC) also confirmed they have not yet encountered cases involving AI-generated images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ana Jaredi\u0107<\/strong> from Montenegro\u2019s Women\u2019s Rights Center recalled a case that could potentially involve AI. A woman from a smaller town sought help after a neighbor threatened to publish sexualized images of her. Because she had never been in any kind of relationship with him and did not believe he could have obtained such material, she suspected the images might be AI-generated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a small community, and in the end she decided to resolve it quietly, through an informal conversation,\u201d Jaredi\u0107 explained. \u201cShe did not want to expose herself by going to the police, because she lacked confidence that the case would remain confidential, and she feared that people would actually believe the images were real.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silenced by Stigma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experts interviewed by SEE Check emphasize that the reasons women rarely report such cases are rooted primarily in cultural and social dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe live in an unjust society and an unjust system, where victims are often condemned instead of perpetrators. There is still a widespread prejudice that being a victim is something shameful,\u201d said Bosnian sociologist Vladimir Vasi\u0107<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that when women are subjected to any form of violence, they remain deeply concerned about how their surroundings will react. \u201cPerpetrators exploit precisely that vulnerability,\u201d he said. \u201cThey count on the fear of stigma, when perpetrating those crimes that could have devastating personal consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanja Pavlovi\u0107 of the Autonomous Women\u2019s Center noted that the dynamics of this type of violence often leave women feeling responsible for the abuse they endure. \u201cAs in many cases of violence they experience, women feel a kind of guilt simply for experiencing it. The abuser convinces her that she somehow contributed to the violence,\u201d she said. \u201cMany women hope that if they do not act, the perpetrator might not share the material, or that they can negotiate with him privately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another obstacle, experts warn, is the lack of awareness and knowledge about AI itself. \u201cBosnian society is still not AI literate, and that is directly tied to the generally low level of digital literacy,\u201d said Denija Hidi\u0107. \u201cPeople may not even recognize that certain content was generated with artificial intelligence, which means cases go unreported or never reach the public.\u201d She added that in Bosnia, it is likely no one has yet had sufficient interest, or intent, to deliberately weaponize such material, but stressed that the risk is already present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill, we are convinced that such material already exists \u2018in the cloud,\u2019 stored and waiting to be used at the moment it best serves someone\u2019s interest,\u201d Hidi\u0107 warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That concern is echoed in Montenegro, where lawyer and human rights advocate Anja Vu\u010dini\u0107<\/strong> highlighted the broader lack of awareness. \u201cOur population is poorly informed and largely uneducated about what AI actually is, what artificial intelligence means, what generative AI means. This educational barrier creates a significant problem when it comes to reporting such cases,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI and the Law: Lagging Behind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though not all Southeast European countries explicitly mention AI in their criminal codes, existing legal frameworks still provide avenues for protection. According to Vu\u010dini\u0107, skilled judges and lawyers can rely on international conventions that states have ratified. \u201cIt is not that you lack protection just because the law does not contain a specific provision,\u201d she explained. \u201cYou do have it, you just need a good lawyer who understands that the constitution allows you to apply international law locally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some countries in the region have already taken steps to update their legislation. When AI technologies first began to emerge, Amina Dizdar<\/strong> from the Sarajevo Open Center (SOC) warned colleagues about their potential harm to women. \u201cIf we already have videos of cats in space, it\u2019s only a matter of time before someone applies the same technology to sexual abuse,\u201d she said at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That prediction has since become reality. In response, SOC submitted a proposal for an AI-specific article to be added to the new amendments to the criminal code<\/a> of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country\u2019s Bosniak- and Croat-majority entity. Their submission was among several from civil society organizations, and the AI clause was ultimately adopted in July 2025. The Serb-majority entity of Republika Srpska had already introduced<\/a> a clause on AI in August 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bosnia followed the example of Croatia, which had already incorporated AI into its criminal code<\/a>. As an EU member, Croatia is also bound by legislation such as the AI Act, although that framework is focused more on regulating services than protecting human rights. Croatia and Montenegro have additionally signed the Council of Europe\u2019s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence<\/a>, which places greater emphasis on the human rights implications of AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The very nature of the online environment also creates obstacles. Rebecca White<\/strong> of Amnesty International noted that this digital violence differs from other forms precisely because of the ease with which it crosses borders and persists over time. \u201cYou don\u2019t even have to be in the same country,\u201d she explained. \u201cHarmful content like images, videos and online smear campaigns can be shared easily and remain online long after the initial \u2018post\u2019 \u2013 and potentially forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This lack of boundaries is not abstract. In Montenegro, Ana Jaredi\u0107 recalled a case where the perpetrator was based abroad, leaving local authorities unable to intervene. The result, she said, was a victim left exposed, with no clear path to justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention, Awareness, Accountability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the existence of legal protections, another major barrier lies in how institutions respond. The level of awareness and sensitivity among police, prosecutors, and judges remains uneven. \u201cAnother problem that could arise is the unprofessional, and ultimately inhumane, attitude of those to whom women report abuse,\u201d said sociologist Vladimir Vasi\u0107. \u201cHow will the police, the prosecutor\u2019s office, or any institution respond? Will the victim be met with understanding, or will she face condemnation instead? That, truly, is a disgrace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawyer Anja Vu\u010dini\u0107 pointed out that while there are many training programs for judges, prosecutors, and police on this type of violence, the system is still far from sensitized. \u201cSecondary victimization happens frequently, and that discourages other potential victims from coming forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amina Dizdar of the Sarajevo Open Center stressed that much more can be done on the prevention side. This includes training for police officers and prosecutors, investing in technology that would allow institutions to keep pace with new digital threats, and running awareness campaigns aimed at removing stigma from victims and encouraging them to report crimes without fear of prejudice or judgment. \u201cWithout that, we cannot expect to see a greater number of reports,\u201d she said, adding that responsibility also lies with the companies managing the platforms used to distribute such material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebecca White emphasized that tackling this sort of violence requires both resources and long-term vision, but that governments can begin investing immediately if they are serious about addressing the problem. Efforts should go beyond legislation and policy, she argued, to include educational programs that raise awareness and challenge discriminatory attitudes. \u201cIt\u2019s not so much about how prepared they are, it\u2019s about whether the will is there to do something about it,\u201d she told SEE Check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sociologist Vladimir Vasi\u0107 echoed this point, noting that societies must evolve alongside technological change. \u201cAs technology advances, so must our response to the realities we live in,\u201d he said. \u201cShame should fall on the perpetrator of the crime, not on the person who suffers it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source HERE!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of violence against women: all over the world, and increasingly in Southeast Europe, women are being targeted with sexualized deepfakes and AI-generated images. This abuse remains largely hidden due to stigma, low awareness, and weak institutional response. By: Maida Salkanovi\u0107 Across the world, individuals, companies, and governments are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":342874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-342873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=342873"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":342876,"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342873\/revisions\/342876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/342874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=342873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=342873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fondacijacure.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=342873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}