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Last week, Nansen had the privilege of presenting at the BlackSwan Conference in Perth with members of the Australian Computer Society Blockchain Committee.

Our presentation focused on the use of blockchain technology to protect women experiencing technology facilitated abuse. And the response reminded us just how much appetite there is for this discussion.

BlackSwan brought together some of the sharpest minds in emerging technology, and we were proud to contribute a perspective that is often missing from those rooms: what does this technology mean for people experiencing vulnerability, and how do we design it with their safety and access in mind from the start?

Blockchain offers something rarely available to people experiencing abuse. Verifiable, tamper proof evidence. Secure, decentralised records that cannot be altered or manipulated. A way to document harm that holds up, built on systems that don't rely on institutions that have historically let vulnerable people down.

And when you combine that with the potential of AI, the possibilities for improving safety, security and access for marginalised communities are genuinely significant.

The ACS Blockchain Committee is doing important work in this space, and we are proud to be part of that collaboration. Emerging technology must be shaped by the full complexity of human experience, including those who have the most to gain from getting it right.

Thank you to BlackSwan and the ACS for the platform and the partnership.

Nansen is proud to have a Representative Member appointed to the Australian Computer Societies (ACS) Artificial Intelligence Ethics Committee.

This is more than a seat at the table. It's an opportunity to drive real change.

AI is reshaping every dimension of modern life. But it is not doing so equally.

At Nansen, we see what happens when AI is built without the full picture. Systems that were designed to help that instead exclude, isolate, and compound disadvantage. Algorithms that reflect the biases of those who built them. Tools that work beautifully for some, and actively harm others. Not through malice, but through blind spots baked in from the start.

The people most excluded from the design of AI are often the people most affected by it. Those experiencing vulnerability, marginalisation, poverty, disability, cultural and linguistic diversity, or social isolation don't just miss out on AI's benefits. They bear the cost of its failures.

And those failures are not glitches. They are design choices.

When facial recognition misidentifies. When risk scoring tools penalise postcodes. When mental health chatbots aren't built for crisis. When language models don't understand cultural context. These are not edge cases. They are systemic.

ACS is taking a nationally significant lead in ensuring AI is ethical, accountable and genuinely inclusive. Nansen's frontline experience across complex social challenges means we understand the multidimensional ways AI can uplift and the very real ways it can cause harm when inclusion is an afterthought.

Safe AI isn't just about security. It's about who gets left out.

🌍 Today marked the opening of CSW70 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York — the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and the UN's largest annual forum on gender equality and women's rights.

This year's theme, Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls, has never felt more timely. The opening session in the General Assembly Hall brought together some of the most compelling and urgent voices on the global stage.

UN Secretary General António Guterres spoke powerfully about the accelerating erosion of women's rights around the world, a reminder that progress is never permanent and must be actively defended.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai reflected on the 15 years since she first addressed the United Nations, acknowledging how much has changed and issuing an urgent call to action. Her presence in that hall is a reminder of what courage in the face of injustice actually looks like.

Actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway spoke with real emotion about the erosion of rights and the unsettling reality that truths we believed were settled foundations are now on shaky ground. It was a deeply honest and important intervention.

Tomorrow we look forward to sessions focused on technology-facilitated abuse and what is happening to women and girls across the world in this space. It is a conversation that is long overdue.

The stakes could not be higher. The conversations happening this week matter enormously.

We are proud to share that Nansen has won the Technology for Good Award.

This recognition means a great deal to our team because it came through a nomination from someone we supported in detecting and managing technology facilitated abuse in the domestic and family violence sector. Knowing that our work helped improve their safety and confidence is the greatest acknowledgement we could hope for.

Technology is increasingly used in ways that place women and children at risk. Our mission at Nansen is to respond to this challenge through advanced tools, forensic services and national capability uplift that help people regain control and security in their digital lives.

Thank you to the frontline agencies, partners and supporters who stand with us every day. And a heartfelt thank you to the person who put our name forward. Your courage is the reason we do this work.

We will continue to innovate and advocate for a safer digital future for all.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence, we’re bringing parents, carers, educators, and community advocates together to explore one of the most urgent issues facing young people today: technology-facilitated abuse.

Even with strengthened online safety laws in Australia, including enhanced age-verification, stronger platform duties of care, and improved content moderation; young people aged 10–16 remain exposed to evolving digital risks.

This session will unpack:
🔹 How new technologies are enabling emerging forms of abuse
🔹 What risks young people are most likely to face
🔹 Practical steps parents can take for prevention, monitoring, and early intervention
🔹 How to have informed, compassionate conversations with children about online safety

Parents play a pivotal role in building a safer digital world for our kids. This event is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to do exactly that.

Please consider donating to UN Women Australia to support their critical work empowering and protecting women and girls. There is a link on the booking page.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/emerging-digital-safety-risks-for-young-people-tickets-1976429209971?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Emerging Digital Safety Risks for Young People Join us online to explore emerging tech-facilitated abuse risks facing young people and learn practical ways parents can help keep them safe