Sri Lanka under fire for deploying chatbot to target Tamil activist

A Tamil activist in Sri Lanka reported being subjected to automated harassment through a chatbot after openly identifying her ethnic identity on social media, according to multiple accounts of the incident. The deployment of the chatbot appeared to be a coordinated effort to intimidate or discredit the individual following her public statement about her Tamil heritage.

The episode has drawn sharp condemnation from digital rights advocates and civil society groups, who view it as symptomatic of broader concerns about surveillance and suppression of minority voices in the country. Critics argue that the use of automated systems to target individuals based on ethnicity represents a troubling escalation in online harassment tactics.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in Sri Lanka regarding minority rights and freedom of expression. Tamil communities have historically faced marginalization and discrimination in the island nation, and digital harassment campaigns have become an increasingly prevalent tool used against activists and vocal minority members.

Local and international observers have called for an investigation into the chatbot deployment and measures to protect citizens from automated harassment. The case highlights vulnerabilities in online spaces and the ease with which technology can be weaponized against vulnerable populations seeking to express their identity and voice concerns.