THE GENDERED DIMENSIONS OF AI-DRIVEN SECURITY

Abstract

This chapter is a critical analysis of the implications of AI-based security systems on gender and power. It states that so-called neutral technologies in fact carry and enhance the previous prejudices. In all parts of the world, AI is employed in national defense, and domestic surveillance, but it remains a reflection of the values and the blind spots of the developers. Algorithms and policies tend to be quite militarized and state-focused in the security sphere, disregarding the daily requirements of women and the marginalized populations. We integrate feminist international relations theory and new work on AI and cybersecurity to demonstrate that the existing systems do not often pose the question of “whose security is at stake”? or “if the security of the most vulnerable groups is ensured?” Facial-recognition technology, as an example, is much less effective with women and dark skinned individuals. Females are the disproportionate victims of online harassment and doxxing. Even protective measures, such as CCTV in women’s shelters, frequently become new avenues on which abuse of surveillance is exercised. The Global South particularly is affected by this issue, as the gendered digital inequalities and imported, uniform (“one-size fits all”) cyber policies exacerbate underlying actual disparities in the offline world. Using an intersectional feminist lens, we argue that “security” must be redefined as empowerment rather than control. Co-created policies should embed inclusion, dignity, transparency, and accountability into AI and cyber-governance. Practical principles include gender‐aware threat models, diverse decision-making teams, South-South collaboration, and proactive digital inclusion. We conclude that feminist approaches do not weaken security; they strengthen it by making systems more just, humane, and resilient to the needs of those historically at risk.