Rising Cases of Online Gender-Based Violence

The development of technology and the internet have made many aspects of our lives simpler and more effective. Despite their benefits, however, these tools also unfortunately became the catalyst to perpetuate gender-based violence in the online sphere. Online gender-based violence is an urgent matter happening worldwide that needs to be addressed immediately.

What Is Online Gender-Based Violence?

The growth of internet culture and digital technology have exacerbated the occurrence of online gender-based violence (OGBV). Amnesty International stated that these types of violence are “committed, assisted, aggravated, and amplified in part or fully by the use of information and communication technologies or digital media.”

Although the term gender-based violence, in general, acknowledges that people of diverse genders can be victims, women and girls are still disproportionately affected. In cases of OGBV, a study by the Institute of Development Studies found that between 16-58% of women have experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence in their lifetime.

Online gender-based violence manifests in many forms. According to The Economist Intelligence Unit, the top three most common OGBVs experienced by women and girls worldwide were misinformation and defamation (67%), cyber harassment (66%), and hate speech (65%). Women with specific occupations, such as journalists and politicians, are more prone to be targeted.

A Global-Scale Issue

Moreover, online gender-based violence is also a global problem, highlighting the urgency to eradicate it. Data from the Economist Intelligence Unit further stated that all regions have over 70% OGBV prevalence, with the highest being the Middle East (98%). However, many cases still went unreported globally, with 78% of respondents admitting to being unaware that they can report online harassment.

Furthermore, the emergence of Generative AI has amplified this issue. For instance, in August 2024, thousands of women and girls in South Korea became victims of digital sex crimes. These crimes range from hidden cameras to deepfake sexual content, where the perpetrators use digital tools to create fake, sexually explicit images and videos without the victims’ consent and circulate them in online groups. AI tools can also be used to generate fake news that amplifies gender-based harms, limiting women and girls’ freedom and safety to exist online.

Using Technology Responsibly

Any form of gender-based violence violates the universal human rights that allow everyone to exist safely without discrimination. Therefore, tackling online gender-based violence is an urgent matter that needs collective interventions, especially in the wake of digital technology advancement. 

Governments and women-focused organizations must collaborate to create effective and accessible reporting mechanisms. Raising awareness of the existence of the services is also crucial to encourage more survivors to come forward. Furthermore, authorities and protective agencies must treat online gender-based violence as a serious matter and hold the perpetrators accountable. Lastly, internet providers and digital tools developers must also bring forward preventive measures and restrictions to ensure that the digital tools are used for good purposes.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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