Cyberviolence Against Women and Girls: The Growing Threat of the Digital Age
United Nations Western Europe
Official account: United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe 🌍 Informing and engaging Europeans.
The rapid expansion of the digital realm has brought immense benefits, from connectivity to education and economic opportunities. However, it has also created a fertile ground for gender-based violence to evolve and proliferate. Studies across the world show that 16 to 58 per cent of women and girls have been targeted by violence online. Cyberviolence against women and girls is a pervasive issue, encompassing a wide range of harmful behaviours that exploit the anonymity and reach of digital platforms.
The Evolution of Cyberviolence
Gender-based violence is not a new phenomenon, but its migration to the digital world has magnified its scale and impact. As early as the advent of email and chat rooms, women became targets of cyberstalking and harassment. With the rise of social media, these threats expanded, providing perpetrators with tools to harass, exploit, and demean on a global scale.
In the 2010s, image-based abuse, or “revenge porn,” began to draw significant attention. The non-consensual sharing of intimate images, often as an act of retaliation or control, became a devastating weapon against women. This form of abuse signalled a shift in the dynamics of violence: the internet’s permanence and virality meant that victims’ suffering could persist indefinitely.
By 2017, the EU estimated that 1 in 10 women had already experienced a form of online violence from the age of 15 onwards. A fact that would only be exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19 a few years later.
The Forms of Cyberviolence Against Women and Girls
Online Harassment: This includes verbal abuse, trolling, and targeted threats aimed at silencing or intimidating women.
Image-Based Abuse (Revenge Porn): The sharing of private images without consent, often to humiliate or control.
Doxxing: Publicly releasing personal information, such as addresses or phone numbers, leading to real-world dangers.
Sextortion: Coercing victims into providing intimate images or favors under the threat of public exposure.
Cyberstalking: Persistent monitoring or contact that creates fear and anxiety.
Deepfake Pornography: The use of AI to fabricate explicit content using a person’s likeness, often for exploitation or blackmail.
Gender-Based Hate Speech: The spread of misogynistic or discriminatory content aimed at degrading women.
Cyberflashing: Sending unsolicited explicit images via messaging apps or social media.
COVID-19 and the Surge of Cyberviolence
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in the prevalence of cyberviolence. As lockdowns forced people to rely on digital spaces for work, education, and social interaction, the opportunities for abuse multiplied. UN Women’s Rapid Gender Assessment on the impact of COVID-19 on violence against women highlighted significant increases in online harassment, image-based abuse, and cyberstalking during this period. Such was the case in the UK, where 38% of women reported increased online abuse.
The pandemic underscored the structural vulnerabilities in digital spaces, particularly for women and girls. The absence of robust regulatory frameworks allowed perpetrators to act with impunity. At the same time, the reliance on digital platforms meant that many victims could not escape the abuse.
Now and in the Future
Advancements in technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), have added new layers of complexity to cyberviolence. Tools that generate deepfake pornography have made it easier for perpetrators to fabricate explicit content, blurring the lines between real and fake. Victims of such abuse often face immense difficulty disproving the authenticity of these materials, compounding their distress.
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Social media platforms and messaging apps have also enabled the rapid dissemination of harmful content. Algorithms that prioritise engagement inadvertently amplify abusive behaviour, while encrypted messaging services provide perpetrators with anonymity and protection from law enforcement.
The future of cyberviolence against women is deeply concerning. The potential for abuse in up and coming immersive digital environments, such as the metaverse or virtual reality, is already raising alarms, with perpetrators finding increasingly sophisticated ways to exploit vulnerable individuals. Additionally, the global nature of the internet enables cyberviolence to transcend national borders, complicating efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. Weak or inconsistent legal frameworks further exacerbate the issue, leaving many victims without adequate recourse.
Grassroots Activists Fight Back: The Case of #StopFisha
In France, the term “fisha” emerged as a troubling phenomenon. Derived from the French verlan for “afficher” (to display), it refers to accounts on platforms like Telegram and Snapchat that share non-consensual intimate images of women and girls. These accounts, known as “comptes fisha,” often include identifying information such as names, ages, addresses, and schools, exposing victims to severe harassment and endangering their safety.
The issue gained national attention during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 when online activity surged. Some groups on these platforms amassed hundreds of thousands of members, sharing not only private images but also videos of sexual assaults. The psychological toll on victims was immense, with reports of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Amid this crisis, Shanley Clemot McLaren, then a 17-year-old feminist activist, launched #StopFisha, a grassroots campaign to combat image-based sexual abuse and online gendered violence. This marked the continuation of her activism, which began during the #MeToo movement when she protested pervasive sexism at her high school by organising a school-wide blockade. Under Shanley’s leadership, #StopFisha evolved into a formal association co-founded by 12 women. Its mission is threefold: tracking and reporting “fisha” accounts, providing psychological and legal support to victims, and raising awareness about cyberviolence.
#StopFisha has been instrumental in influencing change at both societal and legislative levels. It has facilitated the passing of new laws in France to combat online and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including sextortion and deepfake sexual abuse. As a “trusted flagger” for social media platforms, #StopFisha enables fast and effective reporting of harmful content. By offering psychological and legal aid, the organisation ensures victims receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.
For her efforts, Shanley received an award at the Young Activists Summit, now in its sixth edition, where the theme celebrated the “power of collective action” under the slogan “Go Far, Go Together.” Her story exemplifies how grassroots movements can drive systemic change, highlighting the importance of collective efforts in combating the pervasive harm caused by digital abuse. #StopFisha stands as a testament to activism’s potential to address immediate crises and build a safer and more equitable digital future.
Implications for Victims
The impact of cyberviolence on victims is profound, with many experiencing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The permanence of online content often leaves victims feeling trapped, unable to escape or move past the abuse. Economically, sextortion can have devastating effects, coercing victims into paying extortion demands. For young people, the consequences are particularly severe; exposure to such violence disrupts their education and social development, leading to long-term repercussions for their future.
A Societal Challenge: Addressing Cyberviolence
The societal cost of cyberviolence extends beyond individual victims. In the European Union alone, the economic cost of online violence against women and girls is estimated at €49–89 billion annually, straining resources and perpetuating inequality. The silencing effect of cyberviolence is equally troubling: 30% of female journalists report self-censoring due to online abuse, and many young women reconsider careers in politics or journalism out of fear of similar harassment. These trends diminish women’s voices in public life and undermine the diversity and inclusivity essential for robust democratic processes.
Addressing cyberviolence requires coordinated and systemic efforts. Laws must evolve to address emerging threats like deepfake pornography and sextortion, with international cooperation needed to combat cross-border crimes.
In the European Union, new legislation on combating violence against women was adopted on 7 May 2024 (Directive (EU) 2024/1385). The Directive, to be implemented at the latest by June 2027, criminalises at EU level certain forms of violence against women offline and online, and requires Member States to put in place robust measures of prevention, measures to enhance protection and support of victims, measures to facilitate their access to justice, and measures of coordination and cooperation between authorities.
In addition to new laws, social media platforms must enhance content moderation, implement algorithms to reduce harmful content and collaborate with law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable. Public awareness campaigns and digital literacy programs are critical for helping individuals recognise, report, and protect themselves from cyberviolence. Additionally, accessible victim support systems, including counselling, legal aid, and financial assistance, are essential for recovery and justice. Lastly, the ethical development and regulation of AI technologies must ensure they are not weaponised against vulnerable populations.
Cyberviolence against women and girls is a pressing issue that threatens their safety, dignity, and participation in the digital world. While efforts like #StopFisha demonstrate the power of grassroots activism in combating these abuses, the scale and complexity of the problem demand systemic solutions. By addressing the legal, technological, and social dimensions of cyberviolence and adapting to emerging threats, we can create a digital environment where women and girls can thrive free from fear and harm.
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