Soha Ali Khan Urges Ethical AI Safeguards to Protect Women Online

Speaking about the intersection of technology, gender and safety, Soha reflected on the remarkable transformation she has witnessed across India in recent years. "I've watched this transformation across India as well. Young women have built businesses online. Girls are still attending stories that one side was faced in entrepreneurs," she said, highlighting how digital platforms have opened doors for female entrepreneurship and storytelling.

According to Soha, the rise of digital literacy initiatives and online tools has created new pathways for empowerment. She noted that technology has enabled young women not only to access education but also to find their voices. "AI is extraordinary. It improves healthcare access, it expands education. It helps to close maternal health gaps. And through my work, I've seen how digital tools like these are really empowering, from digital literacy programs to young girls becoming very confident storytellers," she said.

However, Soha cautioned that the digital world mirrors the inequalities of the society that shapes it. "Digital world is not neutral. It reflects the society that builds it. And now AI is accelerating everything," she remarked, underscoring how emerging technologies can amplify both opportunity and harm.

While acknowledging the benefits of artificial intelligence, she warned that the same tools are being misused at an alarming pace. "But AI is also making faster, cheaper and stable. It's easier, easier than ever now to impersonate someone, to create deep fakes, to manipulate images, to misuse personal data. And most women, unfortunately, we don't know how to fight back," the actress said.

Her concerns extend beyond the realm of technology. She emphasized that online harm has far-reaching consequences. "And this isn't just a tech issue. It is a mental health issue, it's a public health issue, and it is a human rights issue, which is why ethical AI is not optional. I would say it is mandatory," she said.

Defining what ethical AI should entail, Soha called for comprehensive systemic safeguards. "And when I say ethical AI, I mean safety by design, privacy by default, meaningful concept clear reporting system, real accountability," she asserted.

As India continues its rapid digital expansion, Soha's remarks add to a growing chorus demanding responsible innovation. Her call highlights the urgent need for policymakers, tech companies and civil society to ensure that technological advancement does not come at the cost of women's safety, dignity and rights.

Addressing the same panel "Reimagining Gender in Technology - Designing Safer Digital Futures and Advancing Ethical AI for Inclusive Platforms," Andrea Wojnar of the UNFPA spoke about the accountability gap in technology and AI systems, emphasizing that it is unequal and biased. She noted that while AI is reshaping risks, it is also reshaping possibilities. AI will increasingly influence safety both positively and negatively, she said.

She spoke about accountablity gap. "It is unequal and biased," she said.

"AI is reshaping risks but possiblities also. AI will influence safety. But trust is also an economic issue, and for those of you who attended our session in December with our private sector tech partners, you'll know that when people, especially women and girls, feel unsafe, online participation drops and the promise of the digital economy narrows. When users don't trust AI enabled services, adoption slows and reputational risks Grow digital economy, do not reach its potential. It happens with observation is navigating it under threat," the Representative for UNFPA India said.

- ANI