For many women, the internet has become a gateway to opportunities, including entrepreneurship and careers that were once out of reach. But now, it has turned into a battlefield they never chose, where harassment, abuse, cyberbullying, and privacy violations lurk behind the promise of progress.
Technology today spreads throughout every aspect of women’s lives, whether they live in rural villages or bustling urban centres. From mobile banking to online marketplaces, from telemedicine to remote work, digital tools are reshaping how women learn, earn, and connect. Yet this empowerment comes with a shadow. The story of women and technology, therefore, is not just about advancement.
Afsana Mizan, 33, a test engineer, does daily work involving complex coding, problem-solving, and cutting-edge technology. Though technology empowers her, it has also exposed her to unsettling forms of digital violence.
While sharing her experience, she said, “Technology is a blessing for both my professional and personal life. In my personal life, I depend on different apps to manage many of my tasks, such as ordering food, buying groceries, shopping, paying bills, and booking ride-sharing services.”
“But the same digital world turns my productivity into vulnerability. I have recently experienced a few forms of digital abuse,” she recounted.
“The invasion of my privacy didn’t stop there. Receiving unwanted messages on social media is also quite common for women, and I have faced that too. In another incident, my friend’s Facebook account was hacked. Since my friends were allowed to post on my Facebook timeline, the hacker posted inappropriate words on my timeline from my friend’s account.”
“I was offline and didn’t know about it until people started asking me why such a message appeared on my timeline. I immediately contacted my friend and learned about the hack,” she said.
Like Afsana, many other women have been facing this type of digital harassment worldwide. Most survivors remain silent. Those who share their stories bring hope for others, affirming that seeking help is possible.
According to a UN survey report, 16–58 percent of women and girls face digital violence. Digital abuse refers to the use of technology to stalk, harass, intimidate, or exploit women and girls, it said.
The report describes many forms of digital violence, including:
- Image-based abuse, such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate photos or videos
- Cyberbullying, trolling, and online threats
- Online harassment and sexual harassment
- AI-generated deepfakes, including sexually explicit or manipulated images, videos, or audio
- Hate speech and disinformation spread through digital platforms
- Doxxing, or exposing someone’s private information online
- Online stalking, surveillance, or tracking of a person’s activities
- Online grooming and sexual exploitation
- Catfishing or impersonation
- Misogynistic online networks, such as manosphere or incel communities
Another report revealed that 8.3 percent of women have faced some form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including sexual blackmail, image-based abuse, and various controlling online behaviours in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNFPA conducted the Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey 2024 and published the statistics.
To eliminate these issues, the world observes the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence every year from 25 November to 10 December, according to the UN.
This year’s theme is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”
What is 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence?
This is an annual global campaign led by civil society. Beginning on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and concluding on 10 December, Human Rights Day, it underscores that violence against women is the most widespread violation of human rights worldwide.
First launched in 1991 by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute, the campaign has since rallied individuals and organisations, including the United Nations and partners across the globe, to advocate for ending violence against women and girls (VAWG).
How can we act?
There are many ways to take action. We can learn and share insights from this year’s campaign and support local services for survivors of gender-based violence. We can also host or join digital safety sessions, back male allyship initiatives that challenge and prevent online violence against women and girls, and urge governments and companies to strengthen laws and policies.
