History has demonstrated that offenders of violence against women consistently adopt novel methods of tormenting their victims ~ whether it be chastity belts of the fifteenth century, Sati, Agni Pravesha, the test of chastity from the Puranic era, female genital mutilation, or honour killings on modern days. With the advancement of science and technology, contemporary methods of abusing and torturing women have proliferated. We are currently in the digital age and rely on artificial intelligence, digital currency, digital healthcare, and various other technologies for everyday living, and ironically for violence against women as well.
In response to the persistent and escalating violence against women, the United Nations initiated the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, commencing on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and concluding on December 10, Human Rights Day, annually. This year’s activity commenced on November 25 with a call to unite in the eradication of digital violence against all women and girls. Anticipated as a significant liberator and a venue for impartial democratic engagement, the internet realm has now transformed into a contemporary and perilous arena for violence against women. Digital violence against women, referred to as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), extends beyond the online realm.
It is a systematic method to manipulate and intimidate women that reflects male inequality in reality. A UN study indicates that the pervasive nature of technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the privacy of platforms, poses a significant threat to women’s safety, mental health, and political participation, necessitating urgent reforms to the legal and systemic frameworks that regulate these domains. Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TFVAWG) constitutes a significant global challenge. UN Women research indicates that between 16 and 58 per cent of women have experienced various forms of online or digital abuse. Plan International reports that in 31 countries, 58 per cent of girls and young women had experienced online harassment.
This is particularly detrimental for younger individuals. The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) has worsened this form of misuse rapidly. Deepfakes constitute 90 to 95 per cent of all online non-consensual pornographic images, with 90 per cent of these depicting women, according to papers from UN Women and UN News. Moreover, women in public life experience the repercussions of violence most acutely. A global study conducted by UNESCO and ICFJ revealed that 73 per cent of female journalists have encountered online violence in their professional environments; 67 per cent of women and girls have encountered digital violence. According to UN News, the most prevalent forms of violence observed are damaging information and defamation.
The legal framework is insufficient to address the situation, with fewer than 40 per cent of nations possessing legislation that safeguards women from internet harassment and stalking. Data from the UN and World Bank indicates that 44 per cent of women and girls globally lack explicit legislative safeguards against internet abuse. UN Women further says “Girls and adolescents are especially vulnerable, facing cyberbullying, online dating abuse, and grooming in online spaces. Disturbingly, 90 to 95 per cent of all deepfakes online are sexualized images of women, with verified AI-generated child sexual abuse material seeing a 380 per cent increase in 2024 from 2023.”
Digital abuse manifests in intricate and gender-specific forms, extending well beyond mere trolling. It manifests in various forms, including the unauthorised dissemination of personal images, often referred to as “revenge porn”, the unauthorised publication of private information (doxing), and cyberstalking, which employs technology such as GPS tracking or social media surveillance to facilitate real-world harassment. The most alarming development is the proliferation of high-fidelity deepfake pornography, with up to 95 per cent of the victims being women. The primary objective of this orchestrated assault is to instil feelings of inadequacy in women and to marginalise them from the public sphere. Unlike physical documents, Digital Violence Against Women ~ manifested through images, threats, and misinformation – exhibits a detrimental persistence and rapid transmission that inflicts lasting trauma and complicates rehabilitation efforts. These impacts extend beyond the screen, resulting in tangible harm.
Victims frequently experience significant anxiety, paranoia, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In certain instances, these issues exacerbate, resulting in job loss, abuse, or even suicide. Digital violence serves as a potent instrument for social and political domination. Women in public life, such as journalists, activists, and parliamentarians, are particularly susceptible to organised harassment and disinformation operations predicated on their gender, aimed at damaging their reputations and facilitating their “deplatforming.”
The digital gender gap widens when women abstain from online discussions to ensure their safety. This indicates that their significant perspectives are excluded from global dialogues concerning rights, policy, and equality, perpetuating a status quo in a male-dominated public sphere. Two principal systemic deficiencies are responsible for the ongoing prevalence and escalation of cyberviolence: the sluggishness of international legal frameworks and the absence of responsibility among technology corporations. Global legislation has failed to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology. UN Women reports that about fifty per cent of women and girls globally lack adequate legal protection against internet harassment or stalking.
Laws that exist are frequently unenforced due to splintered power, the anonymity afforded by platforms, and insufficient technical training for law enforcement. Simultaneously, the multibillion-dollar technology corporations facilitating this abuse have been sluggish in enacting trust and safety regulations that consider gender.
Their moderation systems frequently prioritise free speech over the safety of marginalised users, perceiving gendered harassment not as a systemic infringement of human rights but as isolated incidents. This absence of accountability facilitates the occurrence of violence and renders it seemingly probable. Digital abuse of women is not merely an online conduct exhibited by certain individuals; it constitutes a significant issue that must be addressed to provide equal rights for men and women in contemporary society.
It requires critical reframing. Digital violence against women must be acknowledged by legislation and addressed as a genuine form of violence with significant physical and psychological repercussions. A collaborative, multi-party strategy is essential for progress. Governments must collaborate internationally to harmonise legislation. One approach to address this issue is to criminalise sophisticated types of abuse, such as deepfakes and doxing. Simultaneously, technology firms must implement structural modifications and alter their development processes to emphasise safety, transparency, and survivor-centric reporting mechanisms. This comprehensive and gender-centric transformation is the sole means to restore the digital age’s assurances of liberty and connectivity for all women and girls.
(The writer is former International Senior Advisor, United Nations)