A new report highlights a sharp rise in technology-facilitated violence targeting women and girls across Europe, revealing cyberstalking, surveillance, online hate and digital threats as among the most frequently reported forms of abuse.
According to the latest findings from Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE), a network of over 180 NGOs dedicated to preventing gender-based violence, cyberstalking and the use of spyware are now widespread problems in digital spaces. The research shows that as digital tools expand opportunities for connection, they also expose women to persistent harassment and abuse that can be difficult to detect, prove or prosecute.
The report draws attention to the growing threat of deepfake pornography, noting that more than 90 % of deepfake videos online are pornographic in nature and almost exclusively target women. Such image-based sexual abuse is on the rise in more than half of European countries, with non-consensual sharing of intimate images increasing steadily.
In specific national data, Greece reported that women accounted for over 55 % of online threats and nearly 70 % of cyberstalking victims in 2023. Meanwhile, in Denmark, the number of young people experiencing image-based abuse has more than tripled since 2021, raising further concerns about the vulnerability of girls in online environments.
Experts warn that algorithmic amplification of misogynistic content can normalise harmful behaviour in digital communities, particularly among younger users, making it harder to curb cyberviolence at its roots. The report underscores the urgent need for stronger safeguards, legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to protect women from digital abuse and ensure effective accountability.
euronews
