AI-Generated Abuse Targets Muslim Women in India, Report Finds
AI-Generated Abuse Targets Muslim Women in India, Report Finds
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Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to harass Muslim women in India through fabricated videos, sexualised images and online propaganda, according to researchers and digital safety experts.
The trend gained attention after Samreen Ayoub discovered an AI-generated video circulating on Instagram that falsely portrayed her life and made defamatory sexual claims about her. The video used real photographs from her university years, an AI-generated voiceover and fabricated captions, making it appear like a genuine news report.
A study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate found 1,326 publicly available AI-generated images and videos targeting Muslim women across 297 social media accounts between May 2023 and May 2025. Researchers said sexualised depictions of Muslim women drew more than 6.7 million interactions online.
Online safety workers in India have also reported a rise in cases involving digitally manipulated material. Meri Trustline, a helpline run by the RATI Foundation, said around 10 percent of more than 482 cases it has handled since 2022 involved such content.
Experts say the abuse builds on earlier online attacks such as the “Sulli Deals” and “Bulli Bai” cases, in which Muslim women were placed on fake auction platforms. They warn that generative AI has made such harassment faster, cheaper and more realistic, while victims often face shame, threats and reputational harm.
