Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 05 November 2024

Content :

1. Big Tech’s fail — unsafe online spaces for women
2. Time for action

Big Tech’s fail — unsafe online spaces for women

Context :

• After Kamala Harris’s nomination for the U.S. presidential elections, she faced intense AI-driven harassment and disinformation.

• Attacks included manipulated videos, memes, and derogatory content targeting her character, race, and qualifications.

Relevance: GS 1 (Society ), GS 2(Social Justice ).

Practice question: Critically assess Big Tech’s role in enabling unsafe online spaces for women in leadership. Suggest measures to strengthen digital safety for women. (150 words )

Gender-targeted Digital Harassment:

• The harassment included deepfakes and trolling from prominent figures with explicit and racially offensive content widely circulated.

• This represents a broader issue affecting high-profile women globally, from Kamala Harris to Giorgia Meloni.

Big Tech’s Failure in Moderation:

• Platforms have not effectively curbed degrading content, relying on “safe harbour” protections to evade accountability.

• A study by Amnesty International found that Twitter failed to take action on 70% of abusive tweets reported by women in the UK and the US.

• Despite having the technology, Big Tech often fails to implement sufficient safety measures, allowing harmful content against women to proliferate.

Disparity on Women:

• Online abuse against women is distinctly personal and often sexualised, affecting their dignity and mental well-being.

• Male figures face criticism on actions or policies, but women encounter attacks on appearance, body, and personal life, reflecting deep-seated gender bias.

Technology’s Illusion of Empowerment:

• While technology is seen as a tool for empowerment, AI often perpetuates societal biases and stereotypes, amplifying digital abuse.

• With limited female representation in AI development, platforms mirror and even reinforce gender biases. For example,  According to the World Economic Forum, only 22% of AI professionals globally are female

Consequences for Everyday Women:

• Online harassment can lead to women withdrawing from digital spaces or having their access restricted by family, limiting career and public engagement.

• This exacerbates the digital divide and social inequality, hindering women’s personal and professional growth.

• According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, 51% of women have experienced online harassment

Call for Accountability Among Tech Platforms:

• Big Tech must take greater responsibility for content moderation, with proactive measures to remove harmful content.

• Reliance on users to report issues is inadequate, and platforms should bear the onus of moderating harmful content.

Recommended Solutions:

• Enhanced Content Moderation: Big Tech should invest in advanced safety features and faster response times for harmful content.

• Strict Fines and Limitations: Platforms should face penalties, such as fines or temporary operational limitations if they fail to ensure user safety.

• Increased Female Representation in Tech: More women in AI and tech roles can contribute to more inclusive and gender-sensitive digital solutions.

• Bias Testing and Simulation Exercises: Routine checks for gender biases in AI systems and testing for risks in simulations can help create fairer, safer AI tools.

• Policy and Regulatory Guardrails: Governments should set clear policies that mandate accountability, transparency, and ethical practices in digital spaces.

Conclusion:

Creating a safer online environment for women is essential for upholding their dignity and enabling true empowerment in the digital age.

Time for action

Context :

The annual climate conference, this time in Baku, Azerbaijan, will focus on global commitments to mitigating climate change.

Relevance GS 3 (Environment )

Practice Question How does the Baku conference serve as a pivotal platform for advancing global climate mitigation efforts?  (150 words )

Urgency of Emission Reduction:

• Scientific assessments state that to keep global warming below 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels, emissions must:
  • Peak by 2025.
  • Decline by 43% by 2030.

• Current national commitments predict only a 2.6% decrease in emissions by 2030 compared to 2019, far below the necessary reduction.

Current Emission Levels:

• Global emissions have risen annually, reaching 53 billion metric tonnes in 2023, except for the temporary dip in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Developed vs. Developing Countries Dilemma:

• Rich nations are reluctant to reduce their high-energy lifestyles.

• Developing nations are attempting to achieve economic growth while minimising reliance on fossil fuels.

• This balance remains challenging due to the high costs associated with renewable energy adoption.

Climate Finance and Its Challenges:

• At the 2009 Copenhagen Summit, developed countries pledged $100 billion annually by 2020 to support developing countries in transitioning to clean energy.

• Lack of a clear definition for ‘climate finance’.

• Delays in the financial crediting and distribution system result in goals and frustration among developing nations.

Paris Agreement and New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG):

• The Paris Agreement mandates setting a new climate finance goal by 2025, with $100 billion as the minimum benchmark.

• Developed nations suggest major economies like China and India should also contribute due to their significant emissions and economic scale.

• NCQG is expected to be a primary discussion point at Baku.

Role of Carbon Markets:

• Carbon markets are promoted as a potential solution for climate financing.

• Mechanism:

• Developed countries fund renewable energy and carbon offset projects in developing countries and earn tradeable credits

• However, establishing clear, fair accounting rules for carbon credits is a complex issue that remains unresolved.

Legal Complexities of Climate Negotiations:

• Climate negotiations are mired in legal details, often obstructing progress on emission reduction goals.

• Rather than further delaying action with debates, there is an urgent need for transparent, actionable commitments.

Conclusion :

• The continuous rise in emissions highlights the inadequacy of current measures.

• Shifting the focus to real, substantial actions on climate finance, equitable carbon markets, and binding commitments is crucial for effective climate mitigation.