The harsh and unregulated reality of online safety for indigenous women

Taaniko and Vienna Nordstrom of Soldiers Rd. Photo: RNZ/Supplied

Online safety for indigenous women given the “increased ferocity” of abuse was a keynote kōrero canvassed at the Netsafe conference at Te Pae Conference and Convention Centre in Christchurch that wraps up tomorrow.

The poignant timing was not lost on Amokura Panoho who introduced the theme based on the whakataukī, “Me aro koe ki te hā o Hineahuone. Pay heed of the dignity of women.”

She noted the discussion was happening simultaneously with the coronial inquest into the deadly mosque massacre on March 15, 2019. A crime that was livestreamed on Facebook during the attack.

Panoho, a member of Te Pūkotahitanga, an independent ministerial advisory rōpū advising the minister for the prevention of family and sexual violence, opened the panel discourse.

She admitted to “an increased level of anxiety about risk” after listening to some of the speeches at the conference on the pace and impact of technological advances.

“Where artificial becomes indistinguishable from authentic and the new science around emerging technology.”

Her opening remarks were centred on the online world increasing the pace of production, frequency and ferocity of harmful content.

“In New Zealand calling it by its original name is enough to start a fight online – sometimes, physically.”

“New social media networks have formed and amplify the historic issues of structural racism and increase anti-Māori content online.”

“There is an increased targeting of Māori and our language. One in three Māori experience racial abuse and harassment in Aotearoa.”

“Misogyny and racism is being directed at Māori women, particularly those with moko kauae.”

Amokura’s mahi with Netsafe is concentrated on cultural capability and strengthening Māori online safety. Joining her on stage were three wahine with diverse experiences of the online environment.

Amokura Panoho.

Taaniko Nordstrom, a media entrepreneur who over the years has also seen her image, and images she has created, be used without permission, exploited, and profited from, in the worst way.

“I would love to see cultural protection around online imagery be included within intellectual property rights claim Wai 262,” Nordstrom said.

Linda Clay, chief executive officer of Māori Women’s Development Inc. has seen the proliferation on harassment of Māori women with online businesses, especially if their business has a strong cultural identity element.

“The biggest thing we’re seeing is the stealing of imagery. What is missing is the education upfront.”

Clay challenged the regulators to think about us when you’re going about your day-to-day job, and to the online industry to really think about us as well.”

Kayla Cartledge, founder of Our Songlines & Aboriginal Communities lead at Monash University in Australia, is striving for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people.

Panoho queried her about The Voice referendum in the context of online and how it played out at visceral level as campaigners attempted to seek redress.

“What fails us time and time again, is the community standards that are within these platforms, and the lack of support there. There needs to be acknowledgement that it’s not good enough. We want to take power in our own spaces,” Cartledge said.

Mentioning the Australian E-Safety Commissioner, Panoho highlighted how far down they are as a country when it comes to combatting these advancements at a legislative level.

In Aotearoa there is an absence of a legislative framework to hold abusers accountable. Nordstrom’s case highlighted how some platforms used treasured images that ended up on porn sites internationally.

“Here in New Zealand, we’ve got the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2021. The reality is that the distinction between disinformation and misinformation where we find a lot of our whānau jumping down rabbit holes, and those terms are used as veto words in a legal sense.

“It means users posting erroneous content use it as an excuse not to engage in a conversation about the actual content they’re posting.”

Panoho wrapped up the session by reading a recent social media post by Tui Shortland, chair of Northland Regional Council, who has recently lodged a complaint with Netsafe.

“This was more than a complaint it was a declaration of my right to safety and place to hold the damage that was undermining the progress we are striving to achieve.”

Shortland saw the good and the not so good of online.

“Newfound connectivity comes with the potential for harm for digital communications, they can wreak havoc on our mental and emotional wellbeing.

“Imagine taking on a role that involves serving your community, dedicating yourself to a cause you believe in.

“Now our vision and commitment been overshadowed by a torrent of how digital communication, great derogatory language, racism, and false accusations that shake your seats of security and question your purpose.

“It’s the first step in a journey towards empowerment reminded me that we have the right to hold digital spaces to the same standards of respect and decency that we expect in our physical world.”