AI Chatbot Offers Legal Help to Digital Abuse Victims in Latin America

Photo : AFP

In Latin America, many people suffer because of online sexual abuse. A new chatbot called OlimpIA is now helping victims. It gives legal advice and emotional support. This chatbot was made in Mexico and works on WhatsApp. It can talk in many languages and helps people in different countries.

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OlimpIA was created because of the painful stories of two women, Olimpia Coral from Mexico and Isabella Nuques from Ecuador. More than ten years ago, both women were hurt by online sexual abuse. In 2013, someone shared a private video of Coral without her permission. She went to the police, but they said they could not help her because the crime was “not real.” That same year, in Ecuador, someone posted private photos of Nuques on social media. When she reported it to the police, the officer who was supposed to help her showed interest in the pictures instead, making her feel even worse.

After these bad experiences, both women decided to fight for justice. They worked hard to change the law so that online sexual abuse would be a crime. In 2018, a new law was passed in Coral’s home state of Puebla, Mexico, to punish online abuse. In 2021, a law named after her, “Ley Olimpia,” was passed across Mexico. This law says that people who share private pictures or videos without permission can go to jail for up to six years. The same year, Nuques also helped pass a law in Ecuador that punishes online sexual violence with up to 16 years in prison. Many other countries, like Argentina, Chile, and Panama, have made similar laws, and more countries in Latin America are working on this issue.

In 2013, Coral started a group to help victims of online abuse. Later, a technology company heard about her work and decided to help. In September 2023, they created OlimpIA to reach more people. Before OlimpIA, the group could only help about 100 victims each month, but now, they support more than 1,300 victims every month. Since it was launched, OlimpIA has helped over 8,000 people in different countries, including Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala, and Peru.

Unlike other chatbots that answer all kinds of questions, OlimpIA is made only for online sexual abuse cases. Lawyers, psychologists, and security experts worked together to create the chatbot. OlimpIA listens to victims and gives them the right advice. It has different parts that help in different ways. Some parts of the chatbot act like lawyers, explaining the law and telling victims what to do. Other parts provide emotional support, helping victims deal with fear, anxiety, or panic attacks. Some parts check for danger, and others try to understand how a victim is feeling by reading their messages. Even though most people using OlimpIA are women, men who have suffered online sexual violence can also use it.

OlimpIA has received praise for its work. In February 2024, it was chosen as one of the 50 most creative AI projects at an international Artificial Intelligence Summit. Other countries also have similar projects. In South Africa, a chatbot called Zuzi helps victims of abuse by offering an emergency button and a way to store evidence safely.

The creators of OlimpIA want to make it even better. Right now, people need the internet to use it, but in the future, they want it to work through phone calls so people in remote areas can get help. They are also planning to add Indigenous and sign languages so more people can use it. Another goal is to connect OlimpIA directly with police officers and other officials so victims can report crimes easily and safely.

According to the United Nations, 38% of women worldwide have faced online sexual violence, but the real number is probably higher. As the problem grows, tools like OlimpIA are important to support and protect victims, helping them get justice and heal from their pain.