Rising digital abuse
Global Digital Violence Threatens Women and Girls: UN Women warns that 44% of the world’s women and girls lack legal protection against digital violence. Online abuse is rapidly evolving due to AI-powered impersonation, anonymity, and insufficient global laws. Women are facing targeted attacks that violate their rights, freedoms, and dignity.
What digital violence means
Digital violence includes acts of harassment, defamation, stalking, threats, and non-consensual intimate image distribution. It can cause physical, psychological, economic, and even political harm.
Static GK fact: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) recognizes the right to safety, privacy, and equality — including in digital spaces.
Scale of online violence
Technology Facilitated Violence against Women and Girls (TF VAWG) ranges between 16–58% prevalence globally. Misinformation and defamation (67%) are the most widespread forms. Nearly 73% of women journalists report facing online violence. This creates a chilling effect on their public participation and professional safety.
Artificial intelligence intensifying attacks
Generative AI allows malicious users to create deepfake pornographic videos, identity theft, and mass-targeted harassment. 90–95% of online deepfakes are non-consensual and ~90% depict women, reinforcing harmful power structures. AI escalates abuse through automated doxing, stalking, and blackmail.
Misogynistic digital ecosystems
The rise of the manosphere — online communities promoting anti-women ideology — is intensifying hate. These groups spread misogynistic content that normalizes violence, especially against women activists, athletes, celebrities, and journalists.
Static GK Tip: In India, social media penetration exceeds 825 million users, expanding both opportunities and risks.
Weak laws and challenges
Many global laws struggle to keep pace with fast-changing AI. Examples like the UK’s Online Safety Act, Mexico’s Ley Olimpia, and the EU’s Digital Services Act show progress but uneven protection continues. Cross-border digital crimes remain hard to track due to jurisdictional barriers.
Impact on women’s participation
Fear of harassment forces women to withdraw from public life. Digital violence reduces their political representation, affects career choices, and impacts mental health. It also targets women candidates and elected leaders during elections, creating democratic inequality online.
Strengthening global responses
Governments, platforms, and civil societies must coordinate stronger frameworks for accountability. Investment in women’s rights groups can ensure survivor-centered support. Programs promoting digital literacy and online safety can empower girls to use technology confidently.
Technology for positive change
Innovative digital tools such as Bodyguard.AI, a French tech solution, filter abusive content in real time. Partnerships with AI developers can ensure responsible innovation, making the digital world safer and more inclusive.
Static GK fact: India’s Information Technology Act 2000 regulates cybercrimes and provides safeguards for women through amendments like Section 66E.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Global Digital Violence Threatens Women and Girls:
| Topic | Detail |
| UN Women Alert | 44% of women and girls lack legal digital protection |
| Major Threat | AI-powered impersonation and deepfake abuse |
| Most common form | Misinformation and defamation (67%) |
| Journalists targeted | 73% experience online violence |
| Prevalence range | 16–58% of women face TF VAWG |
| Rising trend | Manosphere and misogynistic online culture expansion |
| Legal concern | Laws not evolving fast enough to stop AI-driven crimes |
| Support approach | Survivor assistance through women’s rights organizations |
| Positive technology | Bodyguard.AI filtering abusive content |
| Key Indian law | Information Technology Act 2000 (amended provisions for safety) |
