UN report warns of rising online abuse targeting women and girls

A new United Nations report has warned over the rise of online abuse targeting women and girls, warning that decades of progress are being undermined by growing digital hostility and the rapid spread of technology-facilitated violence. The report, released ahead of International Women’s Day and marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, highlights a broad backlash against women’s rights shaped by conflict, poverty, political shifts, and the expanding influence of AI.

UN data covering 12 countries in Europe and Central Asia found that more than half of adult women online have experienced some form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. The forms of abuse are wide-ranging, including cyberstalking, cyber harassment, cyberbullying, gender-based hate speech and non-consensual intimate image abuse. While men can also be victims, experts cited in the report note that women and girls remain disproportionately affected. Researchers warn that AI has intensified the problem, particularly through deepfake technologies that manipulate images, audio or video. Some tools even allow users to simulate undressing a person in a photo, raising concerns about how such applications are permitted to operate.

The report also draws attention to the growing influence of the ‘manosphere’, a network of online communities that promotes misogynistic content and coordinates harassment. Experts describe this ecosystem as a catalyst for online hate, enabling targeted campaigns against women, including doxing, threats of sexual and physical violence, and the dissemination of deepfakes. Researchers interviewed in the analysis say that algorithms amplify this content and contribute to what some describe as ‘misogynist radicalisation,’ comparing its dynamics to methods used for extremist recruitment. Despite the digital setting, the psychological harm can be severe as online hostility spills into offline attitudes and behaviours.

Governments and institutions have begun responding. In May of last year, the European Parliament adopted the first rules aimed at tackling cyber violence against women, requiring member states to introduce national legislation by 2027. The EU’s Digital Services Act has also placed obligations on platforms to remove illegal content. However, enforcement challenges persist. Tech companies have resisted stronger regulation, often citing free-speech concerns. Meta, for example, ended partnerships with fact-checking organisations in January, removing moderators responsible for monitoring abusive content, a move that has prompted concern from its own oversight board.

Researchers argue that stronger legal frameworks are needed but note that regulation alone cannot address the underlying cultural drivers of online misogyny. They call for transparency in algorithm design, warning that platforms should not be allowed to profit from misogynistic content amplified by their systems. Some countries are preparing additional measures. The United Kingdom is expected to legislate against the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes as part of efforts to counter online violence directed at women and girls.

Experts stress that long-term solutions must include preventive strategies such as digital literacy and early education. According to researchers, children need to be equipped not only to participate online but to recognise and respond to harmful behaviour. This includes helping women and girls understand the risks they may encounter online. Broader political trends also shape the digital environment. Analysts point to recent political rhetoric in several countries that has vilified feminism, influencing online behaviour and reinforcing hostility toward gender equality.

There are signs of accountability emerging. A court case brought by Kenyan content moderators against Meta resulted in a ruling in their favour for psychological harm linked to exposure to violent material. But experts caution that broader tech accountability will remain difficult. They note that political leadership in major countries, including the United States, can influence the global climate around gender rights and online abuse.

The analysis concludes that men must also be part of the solution. Researchers emphasise the importance of encouraging boys and men to act as allies in creating safer online environments, arguing that inclusive engagement is essential to countering the growing wave of digital misogyny.