Robots that hate women: how bots are being used to push the patriarchy
Plus, the campaign to defend reproductive rights from the far-right broligarchy.
I saved my coworker’s life and she reported me for assault. Now she’s mad that I’m distant. Am I the asshole?
I think my brother’s girlfriend (19F) was hitting on me and now everyone is blaming me for making a move. Am I really in the wrong here?
I’m scrolling Reddit forums where people share their relationship problems asking for advice when I realise - fuck, I’m alone here.
I don’t mean alone on my phone. That’s nothing new. I mean that post after post was using the same language, the same characters - deceitful women manipulating and misleading heroic Nice Men, ‘woke culture gone mad’, post after post with thousands of upvotes reaffirming that dating and life in general is Really Hard for Men.
Have you seen Invasion of the Bodysnatchers? It’s a sci-fi horror film where people are replaced by aliens who look and sound identical to them, but something is… off.
That’s how I felt. I realised with a jolt that I am getting angry at…. bots. About 50% of internet activity is estimated to be AI-generated. A portion of this is ‘bad bot’ activity: bots programmed with malicious intent.
It’s not just Reddit. A deadly collaboration between far-right politicians and Big Tech is underway to normalise misogynistic and fascist ideas.
It doesn’t start with bots, of course. Latent patriarchal beliefs already run deep in our society. A few weeks ago I posted a comment on an Instagram post about women being ‘built to serve’ that women are humans, not objects of servitude. Controversial, I know. I received 30 comments from real people, ranging from attempts to kindly explain my naivety to me, to accurate accusations that ‘I must be a feminist.’
Far-right groups like the current Republican party capitalise on the thriving closet misogyny and push increasingly extreme ideas to the mainstream through the help of social media algorithms, paid podcast bros - and then use bots to amplify these ideas and give the illusion of widespread support.
It would sound like a conspiracy if it wasn’t documented for all to see.
During the primary US election debates, researchers found over 1,000 pro-Trump bots spreading the fake idea that the 2020 election was ‘stolen.’ Some of the biggest pro-Republican YouTube influencers were invited to a White House event to celebrate their success in helping Trump secure power.
And the end result of normalising radical ideas? As
laid out, Musk is now staging a fascist coup in the US, shutting down government websites on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ identities, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and now the Republicans are coming for the right to safe medical abortion.Ideas that become normal online, don’t stay online. Feminist campaigner Laura Bates noted that across schools and countries, boys have started to repeat the same ideas and same words they’ve seen online.
Young men are being pushed to the far-right, to a greater degree than women, around the world. Each AI or simply made-up ragebait post on social media simply adds fuel to the idea that there is an army of hysterical feminists out there and ‘woke culture’ has gone mad.
But none of this is inevitable.
noted that “Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given.” We are not bots. We do not have to follow the rules of the tech corporations. We can show up offline, talk outside our bubble, reject self-censorship and call out fake news. The presence of alternative ideas, and talking across bubbles, is the best antidote to radicalisation.
Note from the team: We’ve recently moved to Bluesky, find us at @thegreenfix.blsky.social. You can also find a guide to getting Big Tech out of your life here.
What’s Going On?
Scottish courts overturn permission for the Rosebank oilfield in climate victory.
Related: Support the follow-up #StopRosebank week from 3 - 9 March.Trump orders scientists to purge mentions of climate change from website.
Related: A big list of things Trump is trying to do to stop climate policy, plus a tipline for federal employees to give anonymous stories to journalists.Over 200 experts and NGOs protest right-wing EU plan to ‘renegotiate’ already-passed environmental laws.
Related: Right-wing MEPs are trying to freeze funding for environmental NGOs.Serbian students lead major protests against government corruption.
Related: What does the resignation of its populist prime minister mean for Serbia?Engine of inequality’: delegates discuss AI’s global impact at Paris summit.
Related: Far-right populists far more likely to spread misinformation, study finds.
If you’d like to support The Green Fix, please consider tipping us a virtual coffee or upgrading to a paid subscription.
Focus On…. Reproductive Rights
The Green Fix speak to the team leading the campaign to secure safe access to reproductive care in the EU.
My Voice, My Choice is a European Citizen's initiative for safe and accessible abortion in the EU.
The campaign is led by the 8th March Institute in Slovenia, by campaign coordinator Nika Kovač and her team. They are working with over 300 organisations and more than 2,000 volunteers from all over Europe. Their goal was to collect 1 million signatures, which they have already achieved. Now, they are gathering an extra 200,000 signatures as a backup, in case some are rejected during the verification process.
Why is it important to have a campaign on safe abortion and reproductive care right now?
There is a real risk that access to abortion could be taken away in some countries. When Nika Kovač was studying in the U.S., she saw how the overturning of Roe v. Wade affected people: many were scared and uncertain about the future of their rights.
This made her think: What if we could protect abortion rights at the EU level? With the help of an international legal team, they found a way to do it. Given the rise of right-wing movements challenging women’s rights, now is a crucial time to take action and make sure these rights are protected.
You recently reached a milestone of 1 million signatures. What do you think helped you achieve this?
A lot of hard work and community support. The campaign isn’t just about collecting signatures—it’s about building a movement of people who share the same values and are willing to take action.
Volunteers, organisations, and supporters across Europe spread the word, had conversations, and encouraged people to sign. The campaign created a strong sense of unity, which helped them reach the goal.
How do you manage campaigning across different political and cultural contexts, including hostile environments?
We focus on what brings people together, rather than what divides them. Abortion is often portrayed as a controversial issue, but the truth is most people in the EU support it.
By highlighting the fact that abortion is healthcare and a basic right, the campaign connects with people across different backgrounds. Even in countries where abortion rights are under threat, many people quietly support the cause, and the campaign works to bring that support into the open.
What’s next for the campaign after collecting the petition signatures?
When the signatures are submitted each country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs or a similar institution will check and confirm the signatures. Then we will push the European Commission and European Parliament to act on the proposal.
This stage will require more campaigning, pressure, and effort, but the team is ready to keep fighting to make safe abortion a legal right across the EU.
Have you been affected by Meta’s crackdown on political content?
Yes, the campaign’s reach dropped significantly when Meta introduced restrictions on political content. At first, fewer people were seeing the posts, which made it harder to spread the message.
However, once the campaign spoke openly about the issue, the community stepped up. People started engaging even more, which boosted visibility again.
Despite this, there are still problems, especially with replying to comments. To avoid depending too much on Meta-owned platforms, My Voice, My Choice has also expanded to other social media platforms (see below). For the team, this campaign is proof that when people come together, change is possible.
Sign the European Citizens’ initiative here, and follow the MVMC campaign on Instagram, Bluesky, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, Reddit and TikTok.
Sign the petition against ocean fossil fuel exploration
The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will take place from the 9th to the 13th June 2025 in Nice, France. The conference is an opportunity for governments to agree on a global strategy to protect and restore the ocean. This strategy must address the key gaps in the current failure of world governments to meet the targets of SDG 14 (“Life below water”). It must also be consistent with the Paris Agreement.
However, the current draft strategy lacks any ambition and merely echoes past achievements. The negotiations are happening now and OceanCare wants UNOC3 to call for a ban on offshore oil and gas exploration.
Sign the petition to end offshore oil and gas exploration.
Check out the campaign kit to share materials on social media.
Organisations and institutions are invited to sign an open letter.
—
The Green Fix is now offering low-cost sponsored slots on the newsletter. Book your slot by emailing wearethegreenfix@gmail.com.
So Now What Do I Do?
DO SOMETHING
Brussels: Join Fossil Free Drinks by Fossil Free Politics on the 13th February from 19h in Kamilou. Fossil lobbyists not allowed xoxo
Global: Apply to be a UN Next Generation Fellow if you’re between 18-30 years old. Deadline 17th February.
Belgium: Join Code Rouge for their next action from 28 February-2nd March.
LEARN
HELP A CAMPAIGN
Sign the petition to end the use of toxic PFAS chemicals in Europe.
Sign an open letter to end fossil fuel exploration in the sea.
Stay in the loop
You can follow us on Instagram @thegreenfix_ . Bluesky @thegreenfix.blsky.social and LinkedIn. Connect with Cass on Instagram @cass.hebron, Bluesky @casshebron.bsky.social and LinkedIn.