NWJDR condemns the use of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and Generative AI to attack and silence women journalists

PAKISTAN: The Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWDJR) is angered and deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks against prominent women journalist Meher Bokhari and others in online spaces by PML(N) party supporters. On examining multiple platforms, NWJDR has found non-consensual use of images (NCUI), non-consensual use of intimate images (NCII) and doctored images created through generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other AI tools of Meher Bokhari being shared online with sexist, misogynistic and sexualized gendered attacks. 

It is not the first time women journalists have been targeted by political party supporters online. There has been pervasive and persistent online harassment, sexualized and otherwise gendered disinformation faced by women journalists in Pakistan, with many being threatened with physical assault and offline violence. We’ve witnessed multiple incidents of female journalists’ private information being leaked online with what we can say are well-planned and directed efforts to silence them & resulted in stalking and offline harassment. In Meher’s case, the attempt to malign, scare and threaten her with morphed images of her on objectionable content through generative AI tools points towards a remarkably alarming trend of a new form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against journalists. 

Before the elections, NWJDR released the 6-point agenda on media freedom and journalist safety for political parties’ electoral manifestos, which was signed by more than 100 journalists and civil society members on journalist safety. It has been quite alarming and disappointing that despite the efforts to raise our concerns with political parties around journalist safety, we witnessed, in a matter of days, attacks on journalists like Meher Bokhari, Maria Memon, Hamid Mir, Saadia Mazhar and Benazir Shah, to name a few along with family members of journalists for simply reporting during Pakistan’s general elections 2024. 

The action angers NWJDR, and we’d like to reiterate that online violence and abuse constitute as an offense and complaint-based action should be taken by relevant authorities. 

Signed by: 

1. 1. Absa Komal – Dawn TV
   2. Hafsa Javed Khawja – The reporters
   3. Mehr F Husain – Editor- The Friday Times/ Publisher, ZUKA Books 
   4. Amber Rahim Shamsi – Director, Centre for Excellence in Journalism 
   5. Saadia Mazhar- Freelance Investigative journalist
   6. Tehreem Azeem – Freelance Journalist and Researcher
   7. Laiba Zainab- The Current 
   8. Rabbiya.A. – Turkman Multimedia Journalist & Documentary Maker
   9. Shehzad Yousafzai
   10. Nighat Dad – Executive Director, Digital Rights Foundation 
   11. Amer Malik – Senior Journalist, The News International 
   12. Kaif Afridi – News Producer, Tribal News Network
   13. Feroza Fayyaz – Web-Editor, Samaa TV
   14. Muhammad Ammad – Copy Editor 
   15. Nasreen Jabeen – AbbTakk News 
   16. Seerat Khan – Programs Lead/Co-editor Digital 50.50 , Digital Rights Foundation
   17. Afra Fatima – Digital journalist 
   18. Fauzia Kalsoom Rana- Producer Power show with Asma Chaudhary, Founder and Convenor Women journalists Association of Pakistan WJAP 
   19. Muhammad Bilal Baseer Abbasi – Multimedia Journalist, Deutsche Welle (DW) News Asia / Urdu Service
   20. Mahwish Fakhar – Producer Dawn TV 

• Sadia Rafique Radio Broadcaster – FM 101

1. 1. Sarah B. Haider – Freelance Journalist
   2. Ramsha Jahangir – Journalist 
   3. Zoya Anwer – Independent Journalist 
   4. Afifa Nasar Ullah – Multimedia journalist/foreign correspondent at Deutsche Welle.

• Sheema Siddiqui– Geo TV Karachi 

• Mudassir Zeb – Crimes Reporter Daily Aksriyat Peshawar.

• Nasreen Jabeen – Daily Jang Peshawar

1. Aftab Mohammad – Dialogue Pakistan 
2. Anees Takar – Frontier Post, Radio Aman Network 
3. Unbreen Fatima- Deutsche Welle
4. Khalida Niaz- Tribal News Network 
5. Naheed Jahangir- Assistant Media Manager 
6. Fozia Ghani- Freelance Journalist
7. Ayesha Saghir- Express News
8. Aamir Akhtar – Freelance Investigate Journalist  Swabi, GTV News/Such News
9. Rani Wahidi – Correspondent, Deutsche Welle (DW) Urdu  
10. Fahmidah Yousfi- Rava Documentary
11. Kamran Ali- Reporter- Aaj News 
12. Jamaima Afridi- Freelance Journalist
13. Fatima Razzaq- Lok Sujag 
14. Umaima Ahmed- Global Voices
15. Najia Asher President GNMI
16. Sanam Junejo – Associated Press of Pakistan
17. Asma Kundi- Wenews.pk
18. Maryam Nawaz- Geo News
19. Lubna Jarrar – Freelance Journalist
20. Sumaira Ashraf-  Video journalist DW
21. Laiba hussan – Aaj news
22. Uroosa Jadoon- Geo News 
23. Tanzeela Mazhar GTV 
24. Ayesha Rehman – Geo News 
25. Najia Mir – Anchor/Producer KTN News
26. Afia Salam- Freelance Journalist
27. Farieha Aziz – Co-founder, Bolo Bhi
28. Mehmal Sarfraz-  Journalist
29. Benazir Shah-  Editor, Geo Fact Check
30. Mahjabeen Abid- PTV National Multan 
31. Zainab Durrani – Senior Program Manager, Digital Rights Foundation 
32. Nadia Malik – Senior Executive Producer Geo News
33. Annam Lodhi – Freelance Journalist 
34. Fatima Sheikh – Freelance Journalist/ Communications Executive at CEJ-IBA
35. Maryam Saeed – Editor Digital 50.50
36. Rabia Mushtaq – Senior Sub-editor, Geo.tv
37. Nadia Naqi, Dawn News