AI Mistake?…Australian Transgender Person Kicked Out After Joining Women-Only App

Registration via photo verification... Qualification revoked after subsequent inspection
Party files lawsuit against company citing 'gender discrimination'

An Australian transgender woman filed a lawsuit seeking damages against the operator of a women-only application (app), claiming discrimination based on her gender identity after being disqualified from membership while using the app.

On the 11th (local time), AAP news agency and others reported that Roxanne Tickle, a transgender woman in Australia, filed a lawsuit seeking 100,000 Australian dollars (about 90 million KRW) in damages against the women-only app "Giggle for Girls" (hereinafter "Giggle") and its founder Sally Grover. In February 2021, Tickle downloaded the women-only app "Giggle for Girls" (Giggle). This app is a cyber space where women share experiences and freely talk. Tickle uploaded her photo to join the app, and the artificial intelligence (AI) judged her as "female" and approved her membership.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

However, seven months later in September of the same year, Giggle manually reviewed members to detect cross-dressing men among existing users. Subsequently, the company considered Tickle male and expelled her. In response, Tickle filed a lawsuit claiming that this method of app operation violated anti-discrimination laws. Additionally, ahead of this lawsuit, Tickle demanded an additional 100,000 Australian dollars in damages, alleging that Giggle sold candles with images defaming her on social media under the pretext of raising lawsuit funds.

During the trial held at the Australian Federal Court since the 9th, Tickle's lawyer emphasized that Tickle had undergone gender reassignment surgery, identifies herself as a woman, and possesses a birth certificate indicating female gender. He argued that Giggle knew these facts but still rejected Tickle's membership, violating the anti-discrimination law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

In response, Giggle stated in its terms and conditions that only "females" aged 16 and over can join, defining female not as a legal concept but a biological one, and insisted, "Tickle cannot be considered female." They also argued that Tickle was not discriminated against based on gender identity but was denied membership due to a different sex, so there was no violation of the anti-discrimination law.

Giggle founder Grover referred to Tickle as "he" rather than "she," saying, "I do not consider it kind to expect women to see men as women." Judge Robert Bromwich, presiding over the trial, stated, "I understand this case involves strong issues and evokes intense emotions," and added, "I will interpret and apply the law as it stands based on the issues raised."

Meanwhile, British novelist Joanne Rowling, famous for the "Harry Potter" series, was recently sued after referring to a transgender female broadcaster as "he." Rowling has repeatedly insisted on the position that "transgender women are not women." She argues, "I respect transgender people, but if gender is fake, then homosexuality does not exist, and the reality of women suffering worldwide disappears," adding, "Erasing the concept of gender erases many people's lives."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.