The profound digitalisation permeating almost every aspect of life and society has generated significant benefits, but it has also deepened existing inequalities – particularly between men and women, boys and girls, and affecting LGBTQI+ individuals. These disparities manifest in access to digital technologies, education and skills development, economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, leadership in digital sectors and governance, and in the emergence or amplification of new forms of violence and discrimination – often on the grounds of gender, and driven by algorithms.

The rapid integration of digital technologies into all layers of society, coupled with the concentration of power in the hands of the major technology companies, and the way algorithms work has raised broader concerns around transparency, accountability, ethical use, and the security of AI and data systems.

In response to the challenges posed by largely unregulated digital platforms and AI, the EU has, in recent years, developed and expanded a regulatory framework – from general provisions on data management and use (GDPR), to establishing accountability for digital platforms through the Digital Services Act (DSA), and adopting the world’s first legal framework on AI with the EU AI Act. Recently, this framework has been contested and confronted with proposals to simplify regulations in the name of competitiveness, notably through the so-called Digital Omnibus Package, currently under negotiation.

In this discussion, ODI Europe and UN Women invite you to explore the global and EU-level impacts of digital technologies on societies, with a particular focus on gender. Trends such as the incel movement, the manosphere, and the rise of “tradwives” have gained prominence through digital platforms – partly due to their business models and the way algorithms operate. Research has shown strong links between the spread of online misinformation – particularly attacks on women’s and LGBTQI+ rights – and the erosion of democratic norms, often driven by far-right and anti-gender movements.

Against this backdrop, and drawing on global and country-specific trends (notably Brazil), this discussion aims to address the following questions:

  • How does platform governance, algorithms, content monetisation, and ranking intersect with gender inequality, and what can Europe do to set global standards?
  • How can the EU’s position be leveraged within the global digital ecosystem and interact with other regional approaches to ensure gender-responsive, people-centred digital solutions and a safe, positive digital environment?
  • What actionable and forward-looking recommendations can be made to address emerging risks, overcome challenges, and seize opportunities in the digital domain?
  • What is needed to strengthen Europe’s digital acquis to ensure growth and innovation in a truly inclusive, empowering, and gender-responsive manner?

Gender Talks is a series of events addressing the most urgent threats and opportunities for promoting gender equality and diversity, co-hosted by ODI Europe and UN Women in Brussels and online.

This edition will explore the gendered impacts of digital platforms and AI, as well as the implications of these trends for democracy globally and within the EU. Bringing together representatives from EU institutions, governments, international organisations, experts, think tanks, and civil society, the event will serve as a forward-looking exercise to reflect on the present and future of technology and AI regulation, with particular attention to the differentiated gender impacts of these tools and platforms, and the potential effects of the Digital Omnibus Package on women’s and LGBTQI+ rights in Europe.

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