UK: Far-Right Trolls Create Fake Porn Profiles to Silence Sian Norris
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands firmly against the despicable and malicious tactics employed by the far-Right to silence and intimidate the distinguished investigative journalist
Location: U.K., London
Date: January 25, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom condemns the targeted harassment and use of AI deepfake technology against Sian Norris. The harrowing experience of Norris, subjected to a malicious online attack through the creation of false pornographic profiles and the potential use of deepfake technology, is a stark reminder of the evolving threats women in journalism face. This is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend where women journalists are increasingly targeted by orchestrated disinformation campaigns, leveraging AI technology to undermine their credibility and silence their voices. The far-Right's tactic of setting up sex worker accounts to “shame and shut up women,” as Norris describes, is abhorrent and intolerable. We are deeply concerned about the inadequate responses from the platforms where the content was posted and urge them to take immediate and decisive action to address this issue and prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Sian Norris, a renowned investigative journalist and advocate for women's rights, has become the latest target of a nefarious online harassment campaign orchestrated by far-Right trolls. The reporter had to reach out to several adult websites, requesting the removal of accounts falsely created under her name. These accounts, bearing offensive usernames such as “commie s***,” were part of a retaliatory online campaign against her.
“It is always shocking when things that you write about happening happen to you. It is a violation and it is really horrible behavior,” Norris told The Independent.
Norris, noted for her incisive reporting on the far-Right's assault on feminist movements and reproductive rights, as illustrated in her book "Bodies Under Siege: How the Far-Right Attack on Reproductive Rights Went Global," recently disclosed her harrowing experience to The Independent. The abuse began following her coverage of the "trad wife" movement, a U.S. subculture advocating for a regressive, 1950s-style gender dynamic.
“It is always shocking when things that you write about happening happen to you. It is a violation and it is really horrible behavior”
“Around a month or maybe two after that article got published, one of the big US far-right Twitter influencers tweeted the article, and there were just so many tweets about it,” she added. “Hundreds of tweets with all the classic things that far-right activists say about you - that you are a bitter, twisted crone.”
The situation escalated when she received notifications from these sites while battling COVID-19 last September. Initially fearing a security breach, Norris soon realized her email had been misappropriated to fabricate these profiles.
This personal violation represents a dangerous escalation from the usual barrage of hostile emails and tweets to a level Norris describes as "much more invasive and dangerous." The incident is indicative of a broader strategy employed by far-right elements to demean and silence women, particularly those in the public eye. The potential use of deepfake technology in this campaign highlights an even more sinister dimension, raising concerns about the creation of non-consensual explicit images.
“Because of deepfakes, even if an image of you that is explicit or revealing doesn't exist, you can still be targeted. That did make me feel really vulnerable,” Norris says.
“Because of deepfakes, even if an image of you that is explicit or revealing doesn’t exist, you can still be targeted. That did make me feel really vulnerable”
The incident has exposed significant gaps in the safety protocols of various online platforms, complicating the process of reporting and removing these fraudulent accounts. While these profiles were ultimately not verified due to the lack of proper consent, the damage inflicted on Norris’s sense of security and professional standing cannot be understated.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Norris expressed shock and dismay at being subjected to the same kind of attack she often reports on, noting the inherent irony and the deeply troubling nature of such behavior.
“That links to how the far right thinks about women and sex — that women are just objects to shame and to own,” she says.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly denounce these tactics as blatant attempts to intimidate and silence women journalists. Sian Norris's ordeal is not just a personal violation; it represents a dangerous escalation of harassment against women in journalism. It underscores the urgent need for online platforms to enhance their safety protocols and implement more effective mechanisms for reporting and removing fraudulent accounts. The potential use of deepfake technology in this campaign raises even graver concerns about the creation of non-consensual explicit images, which is a gross violation of an individual's privacy and dignity. We call for a concerted effort to strengthen online safety measures and legal frameworks to protect journalists, particularly women, from such malign tactics and urge social media platforms and online communities to take a proactive stance against this growing menace, ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all users.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.