Online abuse against women is escalating rapidly, fueled by artificial intelligence, anonymity, and weak legal protections. UN Women warns that 1.8 billion women and girls worldwide still lack adequate legal safeguards against online harassment and technology-facilitated abuse. The rise in digital violence coincides with the 16 Days of Activism campaign, highlighting the urgent need to address the growing threats women face online, which often spill into real-world harm.
The internet, while a space for empowerment, has become a frontline for gendered attacks. Women leaders, journalists, activists, and public figures experience relentless harassment, disinformation, and deepfake attacks designed to silence them. One in four women journalists report receiving online death threats. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasizes that digital abuse frequently escalates offline, contributing to fear, silencing voices, and in severe cases, physical violence and femicide. Current laws often fail to keep pace with technological developments, leaving millions of women vulnerable while perpetrators act with impunity.
Artificial intelligence has intensified digital abuse, making attacks faster, more targeted, and harder to detect. Global surveys indicate that 38 percent of women have experienced online violence and 85 percent have witnessed it. Deepfake technology is particularly concerning, with up to 95 percent of online deepfakes being non-consensual pornographic images, 99 percent of which target women. Many of these AI tools are developed without consideration for male subjects, highlighting the gendered nature of the technology. UN Women calls on tech companies to hire more women, remove harmful content promptly, and create safer online environments.
Legislative efforts are underway in several countries, including the UK, Australia, Mexico, and the EU, but progress remains uneven. As of 2025, 117 countries report initiatives to tackle digital violence, yet regulation often lags behind technological advances. Experts advocate for stronger global cooperation, context-specific laws, and integrated AI governance to address the surge in online abuse.
Prevention strategies extend beyond legal measures. UN Women emphasizes the need for safer platform design, accountability in AI development, investments in digital literacy, and programs challenging toxic online cultures, such as the “manosphere.” Feminist movements remain critical first responders, but shrinking civic spaces and funding cuts threaten their work. Programs like the EU-funded ACT to End Violence against Women and Girls are vital for sustaining progress in combating digital misogyny and protecting women globally.
