Technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum — it amplifies the inequalities that already exist in society. Every loophole exploited online is another reminder that justice, safety, and accountability lag far, far behind innovation. AS we step into the bustling energy and optimism of a new year, across society, people and institutions alike are not only adjusting to change — they’re chasing it.
From automation that’s meant to make work easier, to apps that promise access, opportunity and connection, tech has been sold to us as freedom. As progress. As something that will finally close the gaps our governments never did.
And in many ways, that’s true! Digital tools have helped people learn, earn, organise and be heard in ways that were once impossible. They’ve opened doors for communities that were historically excluded, given voices to those who were often ignored, and created spaces where knowledge, ideas, and opportunity can flow freely — at least in theory.
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But they’ve also exposed a sinister reality that we cannot turn away from: the very tools meant to empower, connect, and educate can also be twisted into instruments of abuse. People exploit the simplest, most obvious features of technology — anonymity, encryption, instant sharing, even AI meant for creation — to hurt the most vulnerable while hiding in plain sight. What was designed to open doors becomes a playground for predators, loopholes for criminals, and a mirror for society’s worst impulses.
It is a reminder that every advancement carries consequences we rarely stop to think about, and that progress without accountability can be as dangerous as it is exciting. For example, using AI and basic 3D software, 27-year-old Hugh Nelson transformed ordinary pictures of young children into deepfake abuse content. His clients?
Fathers, uncles, family friends. The horror isn’t the tech; it’s the people who exploit it, and the deplorable nature it exposes about our world today. These are the same spaces where children are supposed to be safe, where trust is meant to protect them, and yet technology has given predators a way to turn that trust into a weapon.
This isn’t just happening to children. Take Indian journalist Rana Ayyub, who has been relentlessly targeted online for exposing corruption and hate politics. Deepfake images, doctored videos, and coordinated harassment campaigns have been weaponised against her — and many others — turning technology into a tool of intimidation and fear.
Just like with Nelson, tech isn’t neutral; it has the ability to amplify harm, shield abusers, and punish those who dare to challenge repressive systems. It shows that abuse doesn’t just happen in isolation; it thrives wherever power, anonymity, and opportunity intersect. The reality is that not everyone experiences technology the same way. Marginalised communities, children, and women are far more exposed to digital abuse because they often have fewer resources, less protection, and limited access to the systems meant to keep them safe.
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