Prevalence of Online Abuse

Nearly 23% of women surveyed across eight countries reported experiencing online abuse or harassment multiple times, with the U.S. showing the highest incidence rate.

Women in Power Facing Gender Bias

High-profile women, such as U.S. politician Nikki Haley and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have been subjected to gender bias in technology and safety.

Case of Nikki Haley

Haley faced manipulated explicit images circulating online during her Republican primary campaign.

Case of Giorgia Meloni

Meloni was targeted with deepfake content aimed at undermining her credibility.

Bangladesh Female Politicians

Female politicians Rumin Farhana and Nipun Roy were targeted with deepfake images on social media, which circulated widely ahead of the January 7, 2024, general election.

Impact of Online Harassment in Bangladesh

Deepfake images of Farhana and Roy attracted millions of views on social media, significantly impacting their public perception.

Prevalence of Online Harassment

41% of Americans have experienced online harassment, including offensive name-calling, physical threats, stalking, sexual harassment, or prolonged harassment.

Gender Differences in Emotional Impact

35% of harassed women found their experience “extremely” or “very” upsetting, compared to 16% of men.

Views on Online Harassment as a Public Issue

70% of women see online harassment as a major problem, versus 54% of men. Among young adults (ages 18–29), 83% of women view it as major, compared to 55% of men.

Personal Safety vs. Free Speech

63% of women value safety in online spaces, while 56% of men prioritize free speech.

Gender and Types of Online Harassment

44% of men and 37% of women have faced harassment. Men are more often called offensive names (30% vs. 23%) or physically threatened (12% vs. 8%), while young women face higher rates of sexual harassment (21% vs. 9%).

Sexualized Abuse

21% of young women (18–29) report sexual harassment, and 53% received unwanted explicit images, compared to 37% of young men.

Harassment Due to Gender

11% of women report harassment specifically due to their gender, compared with 5% of men.

Preferred Solutions

Women favor stronger laws (36% vs. 24% of men), while men prefer improved company policies (39% vs. 31% of women). Women also feel law enforcement does not take online harassment seriously enough (46% vs. 39% of men).

Policy and Governance

Establish clear guidelines to address gender bias in technology and online platforms.
Promote diversity in tech leadership to ensure varied perspectives in decision making.

Technology Design

Develop AI tools to identify and flag abusive content directed at women for quicker intervention.

Involve women in technology design and testing phases to better understand their needs and experiences.

Education and Training

Implement training programs on gender sensitivity and bias impacts for developers and tech professionals.

Enhance digital literacy among women to empower them to navigate technology safely and effectively.

Online Safety Measures

Improve reporting systems for online harassment to be more accessible and responsive to women’s experiences.

Encourage platforms to provide robust privacy settings for users to control data and interactions more effectively.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Despite significant advancements in technology, big tech companies have failed to create safe online spaces for women, leading to increasing instances of online harassment and gender-based violence. Critically examine the reasons behind this failure and suggest measures to ensure safer online environments for women. (250 words)