ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Grab your coffee and join us as we head to Ethiopia - where feminism, online violence, armed conflict, and digital technology collide.
In this episode, we explore the story of Yordanos Bezabih, an Ethiopian women’s rights activist and engineer who became the target of years of online harassment, deepfake abuse, stalking, and death threats because of her feminist advocacy. From coordinated Telegram campaigns to doxxing and AI-generated sexual content, we look at how online violence against women can quickly spill into the offline world.
We also dive into the broader context behind her story: the devastating Tigray war, one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century, marked by allegations of genocide, mass sexual violence, and ethnic persecution. Why was this conflict so underreported internationally? And how has wartime violence shaped the current climate for women and activists in Ethiopia today?
Alongside this, we unpack the growing phenomenon of technology-facilitated gender-based violence - from deepfakes and cyber harassment to image-based abuse and online hate campaigns. As AI-generated content becomes more convincing and social media platforms struggle - or fail - to moderate harmful content, what responsibilities do states and companies like Meta actually have?
We also discuss international human rights protections, including the ICCPR and CEDAW, and ask whether existing laws are capable of protecting women in increasingly digital societies.
How dangerous can online hate become when it is left unchecked? What happens when feminist activism itself becomes politicized? And are governments and tech companies doing enough to stop digital violence before it turns physical?
For any question or correction (because yes, we make mistakes), contact us at: contact.amicaecuriae@gmail.com
