Technology’s Role in Facilitating and Responding to Gender-Based Violence

Summary

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a rapidly growing societal problem that can have adverse consequences, ranging from psychological distress to suicide and death. Perpetrated by one or more individuals, TFGBV is defined as an act of gender-based violence (GBV) that is assisted or amplified by use of the internet and communication technologies. As technologies continue to advance, so do the ways in which technology can be weaponized to harm women and girls on the basis of their gender.

TFGBV encompasses a range of abuses and harms, including but not limited to (a) image-based abuses (i.e., sharing intimate photos without consent), (b) doxxing (i.e., publishing identifiable personal information), (c) sextortion (i.e., threatening to publish sexual information, photos, or videos), (d) cyberstalking (i.e., use of technology to monitor, surveil, or track an individual), and (e) hate speech or online harassment (i.e., aggressive comments or behaviours online toward a particular person or group of people).

When compared to conventional and offline forms of violence, TFGBV poses unique challenges for victims. The permanence of online spaces can lead to long-lasting consequences for survivors as digital content can be preserved indefinitely. Moreover, the ubiquity of technology can make abuse more difficult to avoid, thereby creating new areas of risk for victims. Additionally, because technology permeates multiple domains of people’s lives (e.g., education, employment, financial, social), TFGBV can feel particularly intrusive. For systemically disadvantaged individuals, such as women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with low digital literacy, the harms of TFGBV are further exacerbated; these groups not only experience disproportionate rates of TFGBV but also face additional barriers when accessing help and support.

While technology creates new methods of enacting violence, it has also lead to new strategies for responding to GBV. This includes primary prevention strategies such as online resources related to fostering healthy relationships or more creative extensions like games or apps that teach sexual violence bystander intervention. Ultimately, to better respond to GBV, particularly TFGBV, these forms of abuse need to be more widely discussed, with the goal of pushing forward legislative and policy changes. As the world becomes increasingly digital, TFGBV prevention must be prioritized to ensure women and girls can be free from violence in both the online and offline world.