A report reveals a significant rise in digital violence against women, with over 17,000 cases reported, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. This violence, often sexualized, affects women’s participation in public life. It serves as a tool for controlling women, especially in political spheres. Women’s shelters must adapt to address digital safety, while social media platforms need to enforce accountability. The issue demands urgent attention, recognizing digital violence as a serious crime that impacts democracy and women’s rights.
The Alarming Rise of Digital Violence Against Women
Katja Kıyan (HateAid): A recent report highlighted the alarming prevalence of gender-based crimes against women, particularly in the digital realm. Over 17,000 women reported being affected, representing only the tip of the iceberg—those incidents that are documented and categorized as gender-specific crimes. In comparison to the previous year, there has been a staggering 25 percent increase. While it is not necessarily true that women experience more incidents than men, the nature of these experiences often differs significantly. Women’s issues are frequently sexualized and intrude into their private lives. For female politicians, the narrative often shifts from their political stance to personal matters such as divorce or single parenthood.
The Link Between Digital Violence and Femicide
Mareike Engels (Alliance 90/The Greens): Digital violence significantly contributes to partner violence, primarily serving as a tool for controlling women. To effectively combat this epidemic, women’s shelters and protection centers must evolve to not only provide safe havens but also ensure digital safety. Prior to entering these facilities, a thorough assessment is essential to ensure that personal devices are free of spyware and that there are no connections to the perpetrator. To enhance protection for affected women, the infrastructure addressing digital violence must be expanded, and professionals should be trained to provide adequate support and security.
Juliane Chakrabarti (ichbinhier): Women who are more visible and openly advocate for their rights often become targets of systematic digital violence. Female politicians, journalists, and gamers are particularly vulnerable. The more vocal they are about their rights, the more likely they are to face threats. This can lead many women to withdraw from public discourse or express their opinions cautiously online, especially regarding political matters, which poses a significant issue.
Katja Kıyan: Our research, conducted in partnership with the Technical University of Munich before the federal elections, examined the impact of digital violence on politically active individuals. We discovered that 22 percent of affected women contemplated complete withdrawal from public life, a figure that is notably lower for men. Many women hesitate to voice their political opinions out of fear of potential backlash, which has profound implications for our democracy.
Mareike Engels: This observation is echoed in practice. While protective measures at the federal level are more robust, they diminish significantly at lower levels. Many individuals, especially women, are increasingly weighing the risks of public exposure against the potential for online harassment.
Mareike Engels: The level of political engagement plays a role in the availability of protective structures. For those managing their own social media, the experience can be daunting. Federal representatives have support teams that filter out harmful comments, unlike state representatives who may face a barrage of hate alone. There is a clear need for improved advice and support systems.
Juliane Chakrabarti: Civil society has a crucial role in supporting individuals targeted by online hate. While a small fraction of accounts generates the majority of hate messages, a larger group exists that disapproves of such behavior but may be unsure how to respond. Activating this silent majority can empower them to stand against hate, encouraging a more supportive atmosphere.
Katja Kıyan: Ultimately, social media platforms bear the responsibility of maintaining a safe public space. The internet is not devoid of laws; behaviors that are unacceptable offline should also be condemned online. However, many platforms fail to enforce these standards consistently, often neglecting to report perpetrator data to law enforcement or implementing regulations like the Digital Services Act. The EU is actively working to hold platforms accountable.
Juliane Chakrabarti: When we encounter hate messages, we often picture a stereotypical perpetrator; however, many hateful accounts are faceless and can represent multiple identities, making accountability challenging. If victims are deterred from reporting incidents due to privacy concerns or lack of knowledge about support services like HateAid, these issues remain unresolved. The growing use of artificial intelligence by platforms complicates verification further, as those responsible may be located outside of Germany and unfamiliar with specific terminologies.
Mareike Engels: It is essential to adopt a feminist viewpoint on this issue. Digital violence must be recognized as a serious crime and prosecuted accordingly. Recent discussions around internal security during the Hamburg election campaign highlight the disparity in public and political focus on issues of safety. Violence against women, including digital violence, is too often overlooked and demands urgent attention and prioritization.