Online Harassment Tactics Targeting Women Activists

Human rights activist Laura Harth exposed an illegal Chinese police station in New York. Afterward, she faced vicious online slurs, like allegations of an affair with Tim Walz. This started four years ago. Recently, deepfake porn images of Harth emerged online.

Her experience echoes that of Su Yutong, an activist from China. She has dealt with sexual harassment for 15 years, beginning with accusations and doctored images. Now, she wakes up to find deepfake porn images regularly. In a Newsweek interview, she discussed these challenges.

Deepfakes Amplify a Long-Running Campaign

Women challenging the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) often face online sexual harassment. These campaigns are vast and led by state-linked actors, as per Meta and OpenAI reports. Recently, some women have begun to challenge this by making the harassment public. Rome-based Harth shared images publicly to break the shame surrounding them.

I don’t identify with these images at all. The shame belongs to my attackers.

Su Yutong also agreed to publish altered versions of false images of her.

A Global Network of Harassment

Four politically active women shared similar experiences with Newsweek. Their attacks often increase during sensitive Chinese political events. They seek help from local authorities to stop the harassment. Despite account removals, offending users reappear on platforms such as X, Facebook, and TikTok. These campaigns are linked to Chinese law enforcement.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. did not provide comments.

Sex Kompromat Tactics

An intelligence expert stated that this situation resembles “sex kompromat,” where materials are concocted to entrap and discredit. Women are targeted as shame affects them more. In the past, oppressive regimes used look-alikes for such operations. Now, AI has modernized these tactics.

Canadian commentator Zang Xihong has also faced similar harassment. She shared fake explicit images with Newsweek. These were sent to attendees at a democracy event in Canada, coinciding with her speech.

Laws Struggling to Keep Up

Zang reported her harassment to Canadian authorities. However, they could not act. In contrast, the U.S. achieved its first conviction for AI-generated obscene content in Ohio. This followed the Take It Down Act. Italy also legislated against AI deepfakes, which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted as cyberbullying.

I think that’s the best way to deal with it. The law.

Despite legislative efforts, halting China remains challenging.

‘Misogyny and Control’

Su Yutong argues that these tactics work due to societal perceptions. A “loose woman” label damages reputations in China. The CCP exploits misogyny for control via shame and sex to silence dissent.

Su’s harassment includes physical threats. Her Berlin address is known to malicious actors, and her family in China faces police harassment.

Taking Back Control of the Narrative

Not all targets go public with images of harassment. Carmen Lau in London remains unsure about revealing her attackers. Lau faced harassment via fake letters sent to her neighbors. She experienced intensified harassment during the 2019 Hong Kong elections. After her relocation, a bounty was placed on her head.

Lau struggles with emotions tied to the harassment:

On the outside your image as an activist is quite tough… But as a woman, it has an impact.

Harth understands. This harassment practice affects victims mentally and emotionally. Yet, as a non-Chinese woman, Harth finds it easier to be open about her circumstances.

I’m in a very privileged position and I feel I have more leeway.