The digital landscape, once envisioned as a frontier of limitless connection and democratic empowerment, has increasingly morphed into a primary theater for the harassment, intimidation, and silencing of women and girls. As our lives migrate further into the digital realm, the boundaries between virtual and physical harm have effectively vanished. Today, Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls (TF VAWG) is not a peripheral issue; it is a global crisis. Statistics indicate that the prevalence of online abuse against women ranges from 16 to 58 per cent, a staggering figure that highlights how ubiquitous this threat has become. This violence is not distributed equally, however. It is a weapon often aimed with precision at those who already face systemic discrimination, including women with disabilities, those from marginalized ethnic backgrounds, and women who occupy public or political roles. For these individuals, the internet is often a gauntlet of targeted hostility designed to force them out of public discourse.
The evolution of technology has provided perpetrators with a sophisticated arsenal of tools to inflict harm. Among the most disturbing developments is the rise of non-consensual intimate image-sharing, a practice that has been supercharged by the advent of generative artificial intelligence. Deepfakes—highly realistic but entirely fabricated images or videos—are being used to simulate sexual acts involving women without their consent. This form of "digital forgery" is not merely a privacy violation; it is a profound assault on a woman’s dignity and bodily autonomy. By weaponizing AI, abusers can create permanent digital scars that follow a victim across the globe, impacting their mental health, their careers, and their personal relationships with devastating efficiency.
Beyond individual attacks, digital platforms are being exploited to disseminate gendered disinformation on a massive scale. This is not accidental noise but a calculated effort to fuel extreme misogyny and destabilize the progress made toward gender equality. Within the darker corners of the web, predominantly male extremist communities and "incel" (involuntary celibate) groups have flourished. These spaces act as echo chambers where harmful rhetoric is normalized and violent behavior is reinforced. The danger of these digital enclaves is that they do not remain confined to the screen. The vitriol brewed online frequently spills over into the physical world, manifesting as real-world stalking, physical assault, and even murder.
In certain cultural contexts, the bridge between online activity and offline violence is particularly lethal. In communities where rigid "honor" codes are prevalent, a single image or rumor posted on social media can serve as the catalyst for honor-based crimes. In these instances, the digital footprint becomes a death warrant, as family or community members may resort to extreme violence to "restore" a perceived loss of honor. The consequences are often fatal, proving that what happens in the digital sphere can have immediate and irreversible physical ramifications.
Recognizing the gravity of this situation, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign is this year focusing its efforts on a critical pillar of safety: law enforcement. There is a pressing, urgent call for coordinated, swift, and effective police responses to digital violence. For many victims, the police represent the first and most vital line of defense. The quality of a woman’s initial contact with law enforcement often dictates her entire journey through the justice system. If she is met with skepticism, technical illiteracy, or dismissal, she is unlikely to pursue the case further, and the perpetrator remains free to strike again. Conversely, a professional, empathetic, and technically competent response can provide the safety and support necessary for a survivor to begin the process of recovery.
To improve these outcomes, police must move away from traditional, reactive models and toward a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach. This means understanding that online threats are not "lesser" than physical ones; they can cause prolonged psychological distress, anxiety, and a sense of constant surveillance that paralyzes a victim’s life. A modern police response must be context-led, connecting women and girls not just to a badge, but to a comprehensive network of health, legal, and social services. Furthermore, law enforcement must take an active role in digital hygiene, offering victims practical guidance on how to secure their digital presence and mitigate ongoing risks.
Some nations are already leading the way by modernizing their infrastructure. The introduction of secure online reporting portals has proven to be a game-changer, allowing survivors to report incidents from the safety of their homes without the immediate pressure of a physical precinct visit. These portals can lower the barrier to reporting and ensure that digital evidence is preserved correctly from the outset. However, the burden of safety should never rest solely on the shoulders of the victim. It is fundamentally unjust to expect women to navigate a labyrinth of privacy settings and security protocols to avoid abuse that should not exist in the first place.
This brings the focus to accountability—not just for the individual perpetrators, but for the systems that enable them. Judicial systems and social media platforms must be held to a higher standard. While specific legislation targeting TF VAWG is still catching up in many jurisdictions, police are encouraged to use existing laws regarding stalking, harassment, and hate speech to prosecute digital crimes. There must also be a more robust partnership between law enforcement and tech giants. Police should be proactive in reaching out to digital platforms to ensure the swift removal of abusive content and to demand the sharing of information that can identify anonymous abusers.
In regions where the legal framework is lacking, international norms and best practices provide a roadmap. The establishment of specialized digital violence units or independent e-safety Commissioners can provide the expertise needed to investigate complex cyber-crimes. These bodies also serve a vital role in public education, raising awareness about what constitutes TF VAWG and how the public can intervene. Training for police officers must be ongoing and adaptable; as technology evolves, so too must the tactics of those sworn to protect the public. Cybercrime units, in particular, require specialized training to recognize the gendered dimensions of digital violence, ensuring they do not view these cases through a purely technical lens while ignoring the social and psychological motivations behind them.
The fight against TF VAWG is inherently global, requiring a multisectoral response that spans borders and industries. Police organizations are being encouraged to build bridges with private tech firms, NGOs with technical expertise, and women’s rights organizations. These partnerships are essential for developing prevention-based digital safety measures and for fostering an environment where reporting is encouraged and taken seriously.
At the forefront of this international movement is France, which is currently leading efforts within the High-Level Network on Gender-Responsive Policing. This network is a coalition of twenty-two countries—including Albania, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Niger, Peru, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay—all committed to advancing a gender-responsive approach to law enforcement. Their mission is to strengthen institutions, prevent all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, and ensure that perpetrators of digital abuse are held accountable.
A representative from the French Ministry of the Interior emphasized the urgency of this mission, stating, “Online violence against women and girls—in all its newest forms—is rapidly escalating. We need to increase our understanding and knowledge of how this violence can impact victims and survivors in order to respond more effectively.” This sentiment underscores the reality that effective policing in the 21st century requires a deep understanding of the intersection between technology and human rights.
The mantra of modern forensics—that "every contact leaves a trace"—must now be applied to the digital world. Law enforcement’s ability to take a woman’s complaint seriously, to investigate with technical precision, and to prioritize her dignity and privacy is the only way to build trust in the justice system. By acting now to stop digital abuse, society can ensure that the internet remains a space for opportunity and expression, rather than a tool for subjugation. The goal is clear: a world where women and girls can navigate both the physical and digital realms with the same expectation of safety, respect, and justice.
