To mark International Women’s Day 2026, the ADAPT Centre is highlighting researchers whose work reflects this year’s theme “Give to Gain”.
Working at Trinity College Dublin, one such PhD researcher is Nana Mgbechikwere Nwachukwu whose work examines the social and governance implications of emerging technologies, particularly the ways digital platforms shape accountability, harm, and power online.
Before beginning her doctoral research, Nana built an international network of mentors and collaborators who helped shape her path. Through opportunities such as the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Programme and time spent within the Berkman Klein community at Harvard University, she developed connections that continue to inform her work today. Those experiences, along with the support of colleagues and collaborators, have reinforced her commitment to paying that support forward by sharing knowledge, resources, and encouragement with other women pursuing careers in technology and research.
Nana commented:
“There’s a long list of people who believed in me even when I did not fully believe in myself, and because of all that, I will always have time to talk to another woman and share whatever resources I have with her. That’s non-negotiable.”
In January 2026, Nana’s research gained significant international attention when she documented hundreds of requests for non-consensual intimate imagery being generated through Grok AI on the platform X. Her analysis revealed that nearly three-quarters of the posts she collected targeted real women or minors. The investigation forms part of her broader research examining how digital platforms can design accountability out of their products and governance systems.
Her findings attracted global media coverage, including reporting by The Guardian, the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and numerous other outlets worldwide. Nana also engaged with regulators across multiple countries with the research informing policy discussions and regulatory responses across the UK, Europe, India, Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Her work further highlighted the disproportionate harms faced by women in conservative societies, particularly in regions such as West Africa and South Asia.
Alongside her academic research, Nana actively shared insights and strategies with civil society organisations working on technology accountability. This includes collaboration with groups such as Alcohol Action Ireland, helping ensure that research findings reach the advocates and communities who can translate them into practical action.
Through research, advocacy, and mentorship, Nana’s work reflects the spirit of Give to Gain, demonstrating how collaboration, support, and shared knowledge can strengthen efforts to build safer and more accountable digital spaces.
