Online violence against female journalists rises Noticeably

The report highlights a growing escalation in digital violence targeting women active in public life, particularly journalists and media professionals, warning of its expanding scope and increasing sophistication with the advancement of artificial intelligence tools.

Released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the report outlines emerging patterns of digital abuse directed at women in public and media spaces.

According to the report, 12% of human rights defenders, journalists, and women working in media reported having personal images shared without consent, including intimate or sexually explicit content. Additionally, 6% said they had been targeted with deepfake technologies, while nearly one in three women reported experiencing unwanted sexual harassment through digital messaging.

The report emphasizes that these practices are not random but are often coordinated and deliberate, aimed at silencing women, undermining their professional presence, and damaging their personal reputations simultaneously.

This reality has also affected women’s online and professional behavior. About 41% of respondents said they self-censor their activity on social media to avoid targeting, while 19% reported limiting their professional participation due to fear of online abuse.

Among journalists specifically, 45% reported practicing self-censorship on digital platforms in 2025, marking an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2020. Around 22% said they had restricted their professional presence due to the same risks.

The report also noted a significant rise in victims seeking legal action. The rate of reporting to police has doubled to 22% compared to 2020, while recourse to the courts increased to approximately 14%, up from 8% five years ago.

On the health front, the report warned of serious consequences of digital violence. Around 24.7% of journalists and women working in media were diagnosed with anxiety or depression linked to these abuses, while 13% reported symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Kalliopi Mingeirou, head of the Ending Violence against Women section at UN Women, stated that artificial intelligence “makes abuse easier and more harmful, fueling the erosion of rights in a context marked by democratic backsliding and rising misogyny,” calling for urgent legal and institutional responses.

The report also warns of significant legislative gaps, noting that no more than 40% of countries have laws protecting women from digital violence. This leaves approximately 1.8 billion women and girls worldwide without adequate legal protection, according to estimates by the World Bank.

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ANHA