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Across globe, women battle 'gendered disinformation'
Researchers say "gendered disinformation" –- when sexism and misogyny intersect with online falsehoods -- has relentlessly targeted women around the world, tarnishing their reputations, undermining their credibility and, in many cases, upending their careers.
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Troubling twitterers: Twitter headquarters stands on 10th Street in San Francisco, California, the United States in this file photo taken on Nov. 4. A string of accounts impersonating public figures have emerged, following the rollout of Twitter’s subscription service, which may lead to potential scams and disinformation. (AFP/Getty Images/=/David Odisho)
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ake photos showing Ukraine's first lady sunbathing topless, incorrect video subtitles defaming Pakistani feminists for "blasphemy", slow-motion clips falsely depicting "drunk" female politicians -- a barrage of disinformation targets women in the public eye.
Researchers say "gendered disinformation" –- when sexism and misogyny intersect with online falsehoods -- has relentlessly targeted women around the world, tarnishing their reputations, undermining their credibility and, in many cases, upending their careers.
AFP's global fact-checkers have debunked falsehoods targeting politically active women, or those linked to prominent politicians, exposing online campaigns that feature fake information or manipulated images that are often sexually charged.
Last year, a fake image of Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska lying topless on a beach in Israel was shared widely on Facebook, triggering criticism that she was having fun while her war-torn country was suffering.
A reverse image search by AFP showed the woman in the photo was, in fact, a Russian television presenter.
Former American first lady Michelle Obama and current French first lady Brigitte Macron have also been targeted in false online posts that claimed they were born as men. The disinformation sparked an avalanche of mockery and transphobic remarks.
New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern, who announced her resignation as prime minister in January, is another prominent figure that faced a torrent of disinformation about her sex.
