Two women from Mexico and Ecuador who fought for years to have online sexual violence recognized as a crime have inspired the creation of OlimpIA, an artificial intelligence chatbot providing legal advice and emotional support to victims.
Developed in Mexico, OlimpIA operates through WhatsApp in multiple languages, helping thousands of individuals navigate the challenges of digital abuse. Its creation was driven by the experiences of Olimpia Coral and Isabella Nuques, who both faced online sexual violence more than a decade ago.
From Personal Trauma to Legal Reforms
In 2013, an intimate video of Coral was shared online without her consent. When she reported it, authorities dismissed her case, telling her that digital crimes were not considered real. That same year in Ecuador, explicit images of Nuques were spread on social media, and when she sought help, a police officer’s inappropriate reaction to the photos left her feeling further violated.
Determined to fight back, both women campaigned for legal recognition of digital sexual violence. Their efforts led to significant legal reforms:
- In Mexico, the “Ley Olimpia” was introduced in 2018 in Coral’s home state of Puebla and was later adopted nationwide in 2021. The law criminalizes digital violence with penalties of up to six years in prison.
- In Ecuador, Nuques played a key role in the 2021 approval of a digital violence law, which includes sentences of up to 16 years in prison.
- Other Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Panama, have since implemented similar legislation, with several more working toward new laws.
The Birth of OlimpIA
In 2013, Coral founded a group of activists to support victims of online sexual violence. Seeing the growing demand for help, the tech company AuraChat.Ai partnered with her initiative, leading to the launch of OlimpIA in September 2023.
The chatbot dramatically increased the reach of support services—from handling 100 consultations a month to over 1,300. Since its launch, it has processed more than 8,000 cases across Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala, and Peru.
The initiative was recognized among the 50 most innovative projects at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris this February.
A Specialized AI for Digital Abuse Victims
Unlike general AI chatbots like ChatGPT, OlimpIA focuses solely on digital sexual violence. Experts, including psychologists and lawyers, trained it to communicate in a compassionate and human-like manner, offering victims:
- Legal guidance based on local laws
- Psychological support to address anxiety and trauma
- Risk assessments to help protect victims from further harm
Enrique Partida, co-founder and CEO of AuraChat.Ai, explained that different AI models within OlimpIA function as lawyers, digital defenders, and psychologists. One model even detects users’ emotional states by analyzing text and audio inputs.
Future Expansion and Accessibility
While most users are women, OlimpIA is designed to assist anyone facing digital violence, including men. Developers are also working to make the chatbot more accessible in remote areas by enabling phone call support without an internet connection.
Additional plans include integrating sign language and Indigenous languages, as well as connecting victims directly with law enforcement and other officials to prevent re-victimization.
OlimpIA’s success represents a breakthrough in using AI for digital justice, ensuring that victims of online sexual violence no longer have to face their struggles alone.
