A new analysis by Gatefield has revealed that by 2030, 30 to 40 million Nigerian women and girls could be directly targeted by AI-generated deepfakes, impersonation, and coordinated online harassment. The report further warns that up to 70 million women and girls may be exposed to AI-facilitated harm annually.
Gatefield, a leading Sub-Saharan African public strategy and media organization, called for urgent measures to protect women and vulnerable groups, including the introduction of clear guidelines on AI-generated violence and harassment. The organization warned that without immediate legal frameworks, Nigeria risks the structural exclusion of women from online spaces, silencing victims and restricting their societal participation.
According to Farida Adamu, Insights and Analytics Lead at Gatefield, the projections draw on public data and predictive modelling. Based on Nigeria’s projected 200 million internet users by 2030, nearly half of all users could experience online harm, with women comprising 58 percent of victims. She emphasized that generative AI is rapidly amplifying harassment campaigns, while the lack of regulatory oversight leaves women vulnerable.
The report cited real-world cases, including AI-generated nude images of singer Ayra Starr in 2025, deepfake attacks against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and coordinated AI harassment of Nollywood actress Kehinde Bankole.
Gatefield recommended immediate adoption of AI-facilitated violence guidelines, strict definitions of deepfakes and synthetic media, mandatory platform accountability, and robust content moderation. The group also urged reporting, redress, and enforcement mechanisms, alongside safeguards for vulnerable groups, drawing on international frameworks such as the EU AI Act, GDPR, and the UK Online Safety Act.
Shirley Ewang, Gatefield’s Advocacy Lead, stressed, “The clock is ticking. Generative AI is scaling abuse faster than our laws, politics, media, and culture.”
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