A recent controversy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has come to light following the creation of pornographic images generated by artificial intelligence without the consent of a law student and other women. This scandal has exposed the city’s lack of preparedness to face this growing threat, which disproportionately affects women, with around 90% of the victims being female.
A serious problem of sexual violence
One of the affected individuals, known as “C”, shared that the situation took her from a state of shock to absolute panic, describing it as a “wound that will leave a scar.” C and two other victims have expressed feelings of betrayal and violation of their privacy, even experiencing suicidal thoughts after the incident. Despite the seriousness of the matter, HKU’s initial response was to issue only a warning letter to the perpetrator, which has drawn criticism for not providing adequate protection to the victims.
The legal framework in Hong Kong currently penalizes the distribution of intimate images, but not their creation or possession, which complicates any legal action against those who generate this type of content. Experts argue that it is essential to review and expand existing laws to address technology-facilitated sexual harassment. The general perception among victims is that it is difficult to obtain justice, due to the lack of evidence and the feeling that there are no consequences for the perpetrators.
The Hong Kong Association on Sexual Violence Against Women has observed an increase in help requests related to these cases, reflecting an alarming pattern. As a result of the controversy, the city’s privacy commissioner has initiated a criminal investigation, while the Equal Opportunities Commission is handling a related complaint. The university community and public opinion continue to debate the need for harsher penalties to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
