Experts Warn of Rising Digital Abuse Risks for Women & Girls

• According to experts, digital landscape and AI are increasing risks of online abuse and harassment
• Women and girls also experience increased vulnerability
• From 16% to 58% of women have experienced some form of digital abuse

Experts in humanitarian studies have highlighted that the merging of an ever-growing digital space and technology with Artificial Intelligence, anonymity online, and limited moderation has contributed to a number of challenges centered on online abuse and harassment.

Girls and women are particularly at risk, with almost half of women projected to be without sufficient legal protection against online abuse.

Before the annual 16 Days of Activism to end Gender-Based Violence, UN Women called attention to the increased emphasis on gender-based violence in a digital world.

Global estimates suggest around one in three women will experience gender-based violence in a lifetime, while between 16 percent and 58 percent of women will experience some form of digital violence.

Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women, said, "Online harassment is linked to negative consequences in the real world, including instilling fear, silencing, and in the most extreme cases, violence."

She emphasized the essentialness of legislation to stay responsive to advancements in technology and digital spaces to protect women online and offline.

The rise of platforms such as Instagram, X, and TikTok, along with generative AI, has made it easier for cyber stalking, non-consensual image sharing, deepfakes, and targeted disinformation to occur.

The World Bank reported that fewer than 40 percent of countries have adequate legal protections in cases of online harassment, which means more than 44 percent of women and girls (1.8 billion) are unprotected.

UN Women also called on tech companies to hire more women, remove harmful content with urgency, and respond effectively to reports of abuse. They put importance on prevention: educating people about digital literacy and safety, and encouraging them to intervene against digitally harmful behavior.

UNFPA continues to support digital (or online) gender-based violence survivors, both by working with governments to improve laws and policies around online gender-based violence to implementing digital literacy and safer practice programs in communities and schools.