While technology has revolutionized communication and access to information, it has also created new avenues for violence against women. From online harassment to surveillance and exploitation, digital tools are increasingly being misused to control, intimidate, and harm women around the world.
One of the most widespread forms of tech-facilitated abuse is cyberstalking. Abusers use social media, messaging apps, and tracking software to monitor and control women’s movements and communications. GPS-enabled devices and spyware apps can secretly be installed on phones, allowing perpetrators to track victims in real time without their knowledge.
Online harassment, including threats, hate speech, and doxxing (publishing private information), disproportionately targets women—especially those in public life, such as journalists, activists, and politicians. These attacks aim to silence women's voices, damage reputations, and cause psychological harm.
Non-consensual sharing of intimate images, often referred to as "revenge porn," is another growing threat. Once shared, these images can quickly go viral, causing lasting emotional trauma, social stigma, and even job loss for victims. Despite legal advances in some countries, enforcement remains limited and slow.
Emerging technologies like deepfakes—AI-generated fake videos—are also being weaponized. Women’s faces are increasingly being inserted into pornographic content without consent, leading to reputational damage and mental distress.
Additionally, smart home devices can be manipulated by abusers to control lighting, heating, locks, or surveillance cameras, creating a sense of entrapment within one's own home.
While technology itself is neutral, its misuse reflects deep-rooted gender inequalities. Tackling tech-facilitated violence requires stronger laws, better enforcement, and digital literacy programs. Tech companies must also take responsibility by improving reporting systems and safety features.
Ultimately, creating a safer digital world means ensuring that women can use technology freely—without fear of violence or abuse.
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