New report shows rise in violence against women journalists and activists linked to digital abuse

More than two-thirds of women journalists, rights defenders and activists have experienced violence online, with over 40% reporting related real-world attacks, according to a comprehensive study published Tuesday by UN Women and its partners.

The alarming report documents an escalating pattern of targeted violence against women in public-facing roles, coinciding with the expansion of social media platforms and artificial intelligence technologies. Drawing on responses from more than 6,900 human rights defenders, journalists, and activists across 119 countries, the study presents a troubling global picture of digital harassment and its real-world consequences.

“Online violence against women has become a growing global crisis,” UN Women stated in its findings. “What begins on a screen can quickly fuel harassment, intimidation and even real-world harm.”

The research reveals that 41% of respondents have experienced offline attacks, abuse, or harassment directly linked to online violence. These real-world manifestations include physical and sexual assault, stalking, verbal harassment, and “swatting” – a dangerous tactic where false emergency reports are made to authorities to provoke an armed response at a victim’s address.

Women writers, influencers, and social media content creators focused on human rights issues face the highest rates of online abuse. The study notes that emerging technologies, including deepfake imagery and manipulated content, are increasingly weaponized against these women.

Lead researcher Julie Posetti, speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, highlighted a troubling trend: cases of real-world harm connected to online violence against women journalists have more than doubled over the past five years, with 42% of respondents in 2023 identifying what Posetti called “this dangerous and potentially deadly trajectory.”

Posetti expressed particular concern about the rise of “digital misogyny” and the “manosphere” – online communities promoting anti-feminist ideologies – which are often amplified by high-profile internet influencers. She also pointed to the damaging impact of personal attacks against women journalists by government leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump.

“When a president or a prime minister or some senior official makes such egregious comments, it tends to stir up the mob online,” Posetti explained. “It’s not even a dog whistle, which is a kind of subtle way of triggering a mob reaction. It’s an overt attack.”

Posetti, who serves as a journalism professor and director of the Information Integrity Initiative at research firm TheNerve, emphasized the coordinated nature of many attacks.

The study builds upon previous research by UNESCO in 2021, indicating that the problem has persisted and potentially worsened despite increased awareness. UN Women, the United Nations agency dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, collaborated with partners including the European Commission and TheNerve to compile the data.

In response to these findings, the report’s authors call for stronger legislative frameworks and improved monitoring mechanisms to identify technology-facilitated violence against women. They advocate for increased accountability from technology companies and emphasize the importance of amplifying male voices and others who speak out against such practices.

“Women who speak up for our human rights, report the news or lead social movements are being targeted with abuse designed to shame, silence and push them out of public debate,” said Sarah Hendricks, policy director at UN Women. “Increasingly, those attacks do not stop at the screen — they end at women’s front doors.”

The report comes amid growing global concern about online safety, particularly for marginalized groups, and raises significant questions about the intersection of digital rights, freedom of expression, and personal safety in an increasingly connected world.