Technology is rapidly advancing, creating a challenging landscape for women’s rights. How can women safeguard themselves in the online realm where anonymity often enables abuse to go unchecked?
As a vocal woman who sheds light on injustices affecting the voiceless, I face a barrage of abuse across various online platforms. When I advocate for trans rights, trolls label me a ‘traitor.’ Some individuals with no profile pictures resort to mocking my appearance, particularly my need for glasses. Shockingly, certain individuals even dig up personal information about me through online searches, such as the title of my novel or my nationality.
The onslaught of comments is unrelenting, all aimed at harassing and silencing women with opinions and public profiles, which should not be the norm. In April 2026, UN Women published a report shedding light on the alarming trend of online violence targeting women and girls globally, painting a grim picture of the current online landscape.
The surge in technology has not only led to increased targeting of women online but has also fueled a disturbing rise in misogyny, pushing women to retreat from public roles. It’s crucial to acknowledge these technological advancements as steps backward, fostering a culture of hateful misogyny.
The digital era’s unrestricted nature has shifted society towards a realm where privacy can be violated without consent. Apps promoting ‘nudification’ and generating sexual deep-fakes contribute to the objectification of women and exert control over them without consent, aiming to shame and humiliate.
Despite the UK government’s ban on ‘nudification’ apps in December 2025, the online world continues to facilitate such activities under the radar. Research uncovered information readily available online, rating these apps based on their ability to produce NSFW images and facilitate inappropriate chats alongside AI-generated content.
This dehumanizing trend reduces women to mere objects of sexual gratification, stripping them of their autonomy and consent, as highlighted in the UN Women report citing the accessibility of AI-assisted ‘virtual rape.’
Perceiving online abuse and ‘virtual rape’ solely as digital issues detached from the real world is a misconception. The psychological impact of these acts extends to women in public roles, with a startling one in four women reporting experiencing AI-assisted abuse.
To shield themselves, 41% of respondents admit to self-censoring online to avoid abuse, with half of women in public communication roles altering their online presence due to online violence. This alarming trend forces women to rethink their actions even in professional settings, illustrating the profound impact of digital harms.
The global scale of the issue highlighted in the report emphasizes that this is not just a UK-centric problem. Testimonies from women worldwide recount instances of online abuse and false allegations spread through messaging apps, underscoring the pervasive nature of the issue.
Addressing these attacks necessitates a collective effort to hold Big Tech accountable for providing abusers with platforms to propagate dangerous and threatening content, rather than placing the burden solely on victims to adapt their behavior.
The solution cannot be for women to retreat from public roles. It is imperative to demand accountability from tech giants for enabling abusers and to advocate for a safer online environment for all individuals.