More than one in five women in the UK have experienced abuse online, usually related to physical or sexual violence, according to research by Amnesty International.

That’s not the only way gendered violence manifests itself online. From the inherently female and submissive nature of artificial intelligent (AI) assistants, to the "incels" (involuntary celibates) on Reddit discussing ways to punish women without being arrested, and discussions around what sex robots mean for the treatment of women, the internet can often be a dangerous place to be a woman.

As a result, the future and safety of women is tied up in technology, something Dr Charlotte Webb and her team are exploring as part of the Feminist Internet movement.

What began as a 10-day project at the University of Arts London last year has taken off to become an internationally recognised collective campaigning for a more equal internet for everyone, regardless of gender.

We caught up with Webb, who calls herself the Chief Leopard at the Feminist Internet, to find out about how the project started and what the equal internet could look like.

How the Feminist Internet started

Webb was finishing her PhD at the University of Arts London last summer, when the phrase feminist internet popped into her head.

The concept became concrete with the creation of a Feminist Internet studio during the UAL Futures Festival. A total of 16 students were invited to establish the Feminist Internet manifesto as well as create responses to the issues of gender inequality in technology during the project.

This work lead to the creation of the Feminist Internet as we see it now. The collective wants to turn heads and challenge the status quo. And there’s no better way to do that than to put “feminism” in the title.

Whilst the concept is about creating equality for all humans, regardless of gender, race, or sexual preference, you can’t argue that it isn’t a divisive term.

“I find the fact feminism is a provocative term productive,” says Webb. “Why not make part of the challenge breaking down the stereotypes for men and women? Because if you understand what feminism is really about – equality and social justice – then you can be on board with it.”

Breaking down the problems of the internet

The Feminist Internet argues that because the internet is inherently masculine, as it was established and is controlled by male-dominated companies, inequality is built into the structure of the online world.

This has led to things such as the predominance of women suffering from online trolling. As well, there's the issue of the commodification of bodies on platforms such as Instagram where influencers (usually women) make thousands of pounds through selling themselves in the form of sponsorship deals for hair growth gummies and laxative tea.

Yet, it's complicated. When it comes to abuse and online trolling, women are just as much the perpetrators as they are the victims. What can the Feminist Internet do to change this?

“We need to fight the fact of the abuse overall. We can look at where it’s coming from and we can look at the motivations for women to abuse each other,” explains Webb.

This is why it’s important that the Feminist Internet project is fighting for equality for everyone, not just women. Webb cites a study that showed men actually receive higher quantities of abuse online than women.

But, she adds: “The nature of the abuse that women receive is on the basis of them being a woman."

This is something Feminist Internet hopes to change.

Another mission focus is calling for an end to the commodification of bodies on social media.

Webb says there is a need for critical engagement with platforms like Instagram as they award young girls and women who look a certain way - usually white and thin. “There needs to be an awareness of the ways in which the representations of bodies are constructed and gendered online.”

That doesn’t mean withdrawing from the platform completely, however. Instead of voting with your wallet, Webb recommends voting with your following by finding accounts that champion women’s rights and bring balance to your feed.

“If you are critically aware of the things you follow, it doesn’t mean you can’t follow Kim Kardashian,” says Webb. “But know that when she promotes appetite-supressing lollipops you should have a problem with that.”

What can be done to change the status quo?

Creating an equal internet is no mean feat. The problems women face in the online world only seem to be growing. When you have groups like incels advocating for rape and taking what is “rightfully theirs” from women, it can feel that the struggle could be almost too much.

“You can sometimes get demoralised with the enormity of the task at hand,” says Webb. “I get the most strength and resolve from all the amazing people in Feminist Internet, They’re so inspiring, talented and brilliant. And, because we have a shared goal, it’s an endless source of information.”

As a result, Webb wants to ensure the project gets financial and structural support so it can continue on its mission. She hopes to put into action some of the ideas and technologies the Feminist Internet has come up with so far.

For instance, one prototype was an app called Hollabot that would detect abusive content on the internet. “It would create a pop-up that forces the abuser to do online community service, a form of education basically,” she explains.

Another design includes an Internet of Things device (a normal household object that is connected to the internet) named ELI that would help to resolve domestic conflicts. The app would use 3D colours and shapes to allow users to communicate with each other to resolve disputes and manage emotions when it comes to domestic tasks.

Webb is hoping to work alongside the big tech companies to make some of these technologies a reality, as well as achieve the wider goals of the Feminist Internet.

“It’s much better to have a conversation with big tech. They’re not going anywhere so we’re trying to be in dialogue with companies that have so much power and try to affect some change in the way that they take responsibility for the reproduction of social media and inequalities,” says Webb.

If you want to join the fight for the Feminist Internet, Webb is very happy for you to get involved. The organisation will be holding workshops at the Arcade East festival in August, in collaboration with wrkwrkwrk, to invite people to help create a fairer internet.

“We will guide people through a process of creating their version of the manifesto which will go online and be part of the bigger evolution of Feminist Internet,” she says.

“We feel it’s important that it’s not just us that have a stake in these values.”

Ultimately, Webb sees the status of equality and feminism as similar to where sustainable development was 20 years ago. Nowadays, companies have to promote sustainable development policies as part of their work or their reputations will suffer for it. She hopes this will happen for equality too.

“You will not be credible as a tech company, brand, an organisation, if you are not taking responsibility for [equality]. It doesn’t matter if you don’t identify [as a feminist], you’re going to have to do it anyway.”

In her view, it’s simply a matter of time before everyone else catches on to this.

The Feminist Internet manifesto: five things the equal internet will have According to Webb 1. Algorithmic accountability 2. Protection of the right to freedom of expression 3. Less gendered censorship of bodies 4. Zero toxic online abuse 5. A return to the values of cooperation not competition

The Feminist Internet is supported by UAL, Europe's largest university focused on art and design.