Report highlights online violence targeting LGBTQIA+ individuals in Ethiopia

A new report by the Association for Progressive Communications and the Feminist Internet Research Network examines online gender-based violence targeting LGBTQIA+ individuals in Ethiopia.

Based on interviews with LGBTQIA+ individuals and activists, the study finds that digital platforms are frequently used for harassment, threats, and the exposure of personal information. Practices such as doxxing and outing are identified as particularly harmful, often leading to offline consequences including physical violence, social exclusion, and family rejection.

The report notes that online spaces, while providing opportunities for connection and visibility, also reflect and amplify existing social stigma and legal risks. In Ethiopia, where same-sex relations are criminalised and social attitudes remain largely hostile, online abuse is often normalised and can escalate into coordinated attacks.

The findings also point to the psychological impact of such violence, including anxiety, fear, and withdrawal from online participation. At the same time, LGBTQIA+ individuals use digital platforms to build support networks and organise, despite ongoing risks.

The study calls for increased attention to online gender-based violence in policy and research, as well as responses that address both digital harms and their offline effects.