Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins (pictured right with eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant) has warned that while technology and online platforms present enormous opportunities to advance gender equality, they could also be used for online harassment and abuse.
Ms Jenkins hosted a workshop, as part of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights and Technology Conference, to discuss emerging issues around sexual harassment and abuse through technology.
“Technology and online platforms can be powerful tools for women to increase their social connectedness, and improve their economic security and access to information,” Ms Jenkins said.
“The #MeToo movement, for example, has shown us the power of a collective voice to spotlight the harm of sexual harassment.
“Social media also helps to amplify the voices of women who are often left behind in public debates.”
She said the downside was that social media and digital technology were also used to subject women to online harassment and abuse, including in the workplace and in public life.
Ms Jenkins said the workshop discussions about the implications of technology would form part of the national inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.
“The world first inquiry, announced in June, will consider the drivers of sexual harassment in the workplace and the adequacy of the existing legal framework, including a review of complaints made to State and Territory Anti-discrimination Agencies,” she said.
“It will also look at how people are using technology and social media to perpetrate workplace-related sexual harassment.”
