Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), also known as online violence, cyber or digital violence, refers to any act of violence committed through the use of digital technologies such as smartphones, the internet, social media, or email. Common types of TFGBV include threats, harassment, image-based abuse (i.e. sharing, or threat of sharing private or sexually graphic images/videos of a person without their consent), cyberstalking (i.e. persistent and intrusive online behaviour that intimidates or harasses adults/children), grooming (i.e. using online platforms to establish trust and exploit children for sexual purposes), and the distribution of sexual images and videos.
TFGBV is driven by multiple factors, including:
- Intention to control, humiliate, silence, or intimidate.
- Deeply rooted gender inequalities and discriminatory norms.
- Other forms of discrimination, such as racism, homophobia, and transphobia.
TFGBV is increasingly common, especially for younger women and marginalised groups such as LGBTIQ+ individuals, who face unique forms of online abuse. A recent study across 51 countries found that 38 percent of women with internet access reported experiencing online violence, with 45 percent of younger women aged 18-30 particularly affected. LGBTIQ+ individuals experience TFGBV in distinct ways, including the dismissal of their gender identity and revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity without consent. The prevalence of TFGBV highlights the urgent need for inclusive prevention and response efforts.
“TFGBV exists on a continuum of GBV and can facilitate offline violence in complex ways”
(Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security 2024)
As technology evolves, including with emerging AI innovations, so does the nature of TFGBV, making it challenging to track trends. There is limited reliable data on the prevalence, forms, and impact of TFGBV across different regions and social intersections. Research gaps exist around the links between offline violence against women and violence against children and its extension into online spaces, the identity of perpetrators, and the role of intimate partners versus organised networks. Other research needs exist to understand the nature of TFGBV in low and middle-income countries. Conducting more research to fill these gaps can highlight opportunities to integrate preventive measures.
While comprehensive data on TFGBV is still limited, promising strategies are emerging to prevent and respond to this growing form of violence. These include community awareness, education, and digital literacy, which have the potential to also promote non-violent, equitable social norms and foster behaviour change. Regulation and policy frameworks also play a crucial role in addressing TFGBV by holding perpetrators accountable and protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children. However, these measures must be designed to ensure effective protection without unintended harm or suppression of freedom of expression.
It is important to:
- Adopt context-specific prevention approaches, recognising that the experiences and risks of TFGBV vary across different regions and communities.
- Address underlying gender inequalities, social norms, and power imbalances that fuel both online and offline GBV.
Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: Developing a shared research agenda
Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence to Safeguard Digital Spaces
FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: BUILDING AND TESTING A FRAMEWORK FOR DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND OTHER TERMS
Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: An Emerging Issue in Women, Peace and Security
2022 Global Symposium on Technology-facilitated Gender-based Violence Results: Building a Common Pathway
