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Women in public roles are increasingly confronting a sophisticated wave of online violence, according to a recent report from UN Women. This alarming trend, exacerbated by artificial intelligence and a lack of legal protections, poses a significant threat to those who engage in public discourse, including journalists and activists.
The Escalation of Online Abuse
The UN’s findings reveal that out of over 1,500 women surveyed, 6% reported having fallen victim to deepfake technology—a form of digital manipulation that can create harmful and misleading representations. Furthermore, approximately one-third of respondents indicated they had received unsolicited sexual advances online, while 12% disclosed that intimate images of them had been shared without their consent.
Kalliopi Mingeirou, who leads UN Women’s initiatives to combat violence against women, emphasised the dangerous intersection of AI, anonymity, and inadequate legal frameworks. “Artificial intelligence is making abuse easier and more damaging,” she stated, highlighting how the rapid dissemination of harmful content in online spaces amplifies the threat.
The Digital Sphere: A Hostile Environment
The report, released on Thursday, paints a grim picture of the digital landscape for women. Many are forced to navigate the challenging choice between maintaining their online presence and risking violence, or withdrawing altogether, which may have professional and personal repercussions. “When women, particularly journalists and human rights defenders, are driven out of digital spaces, we all lose,” Mingeirou asserted.
The erosion of women’s presence online is especially concerning amid a global rise in authoritarianism and misogynistic rhetoric, as outlined in the report. It argues that technology is not only complicit in this regression but actively fuels the problem by promoting misogynistic hate speech for profit. The rise of generative AI apps, capable of creating non-consensual explicit imagery, exemplifies this disturbing trend.
Coordinated Attacks on Women’s Voices
Mingeirou described the attacks on women’s online expressions as “coordinated and deliberate,” aimed at undermining their credibility and silencing their voices. This aligns with earlier research that suggested the suppression of women in public discourse is not accidental but a systematic effort to stifle gender equality narratives.
One stark illustration of this issue came to light earlier this year when it was revealed that requests for AI tools to generate inappropriate images of women flooded Elon Musk’s platform, Grok. Additionally, allegations from public figures, such as German television star Collien Fernandes, further underscore the personal toll of these digital abuses.
Mental Health Impacts and the Need for Action
The repercussions of online violence extend beyond the digital realm. The report found that a quarter of female journalists surveyed reported being diagnosed with anxiety or depression linked to online harassment, while nearly 13% faced post-traumatic stress disorder. The fear of violence has led many to self-censor, with 45% of female journalists admitting they avoid sensitive topics on social media, and nearly 22% doing the same in their professional work.
Mingeirou called for immediate action from technology companies to implement safeguards against abuse and to develop robust reporting mechanisms. She also highlighted the urgent need for governments to legislate protections against cyber harassment, noting that currently, fewer than 40% of countries have such laws in place.
Why it Matters
The implications of this report are profound. The erosion of women’s voices online risks reversing decades of progress towards gender equality. As the digital landscape becomes increasingly hostile, the very fabric of public discourse is at stake. Ensuring that women can participate freely and safely in online spaces is crucial not only for their personal well-being but for the health of democracy itself. The call to action is clear: without intervention, we risk perpetuating a cycle of fear and silence that impacts society as a whole.
