137. Harassment China Style
China has developed a new method using Artificial Intelligence and digital tools to target women activists and opponents specifically.
Recently, prominent pro-democracy Hong Kong exiles in the UK and Australia received sexually explicit letters and posters labelled as "lonely housewife” about them.
This new method indicates a rise in transnational harassment experienced by critics of the Chinese Communist Party's rule in the former British colony.
A few days back, Carmen Lau, an exiled pro-democracy activist’s former neighbours in Maidenhead, UK, received such letters. The letters included digitally altered images depicting her as a sex worker.
This marks the first instance where female activists listed on the Hong Kong police’s bounty for national security offences have been directly subjected to sexual harassment.
At least six of Lau’s previous neighbours in Maidenhead received letters containing fake, sexualized images of her. They were sent from Macau, a semi-autonomous territory of China close to Hong Kong.
The letters include five deepfaked images of Lau, showing her face superimposed on women’s bodies, either nude or in underwear. One picture shows the fake Lau engaging in a sexual act.
The letter's text mentions Lau’s name, body measurements and her previous home address in full and says: “Welcome to visit me! You have the right to choose me, and I also have the right not to accept you. I just hope the process is gentle. Maybe we can become close friends someday!”
In Australia, the wife of former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui has been depicted on a fake poster with the headline “Hong Kong lonely housewife”. Below the picture, there's a menu of sexual services with prices and the address.
Similar letters were sent regarding Kevin Yam, an Australian-Hong Kong lawyer who faces an arrest warrant in Hong Kong for his pro-democracy activism.
It’s clearly unfortunate for the individual affected. Consider the weight of the psychological strain.
China’s dirty efforts to intimidate and threaten pro-democracy Hongkongers are utterly grotesque.