DIGITAL VIOLENCE IS REAL VIOLENCE

Every year, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women reminds us of the urgent need to confront the many forms of abuse women face. While physical violence often dominates headlines, there is another insidious form of harm that thrives in silence and invisibility: digital violence. Online abuse, harassment, and cyber-stalking are not “virtual problems.” They are real violence with devastating consequences.

The Numbers Speak the Reality:

• 50,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members in 2024 - that’s 137 every single day. Many of these cases followed patterns of prior abuse, including online harassment.
• The UN Women–UNODC report (2025) warns that digital abuse heightens the risk of femicide, as online stalking and threats often escalate into physical violence.
• In Bangladesh, a 2024 national survey revealed that 70% of women experience intimate partner violence, with digital abuse emerging as a growing dimension.
• In India, advocates like Vrinda Grover have called digital violence “a major threat to women and girls,” highlighting how online harassment silences women’s voices in public spaces.
• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded over 50,000 cybercrime cases in 2023, with nearly 13% directly targeting women through online harassment, stalking, and image-based abuse.
• A Prajnya Trust report (2023–24) highlights that women across India increasingly face deepfakes, impersonation, and revenge porn, with young women and activists being disproportionately targeted.
• The Ministry of Statistics (2024) notes that while women’s participation in education and the workforce has risen, digital harassment is a major barrier to online engagement, silencing many voices.
• In 2025, UN Women India’s campaign led by actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu drew attention to the rapid rise of online abuse, emphasizing that manipulated content and cyber-stalking are now mainstream threats.

These numbers prove that digital violence is not separate from “real” violence; it is part of the same continuum of harm.

How IT affects:

The impact of Digital Violence on victims is profound and often invisibly touching us in a way we barely even realise, it ruins deeper than we often imagine.

• Psychological toll: Victims report anxiety, depression, and withdrawal from online spaces.
• Social silencing: Women journalists, activists, and public figures often face coordinated trolling campaigns, forcing them offline.
• Escalation risk: Online stalking frequently precedes offline violence, making digital abuse a dangerous precursor.

What Needs to Change :

• Platforms must act: Social media companies must enforce stronger safety measures and accountability. Stronger moderation and accountability are essential.
• Communities must support: We must believe the survivors, amplify their voices, and challenge abusive behaviour.
• Policy must evolve:” Digital violence” must be recognised legally and treated with the same seriousness as physical violence.

India’s Response So Far:

• Legal framework: The IT Act and IPC provisions criminalise cyber-stalking, harassment, and non-consensual image sharing. Yet enforcement remains weak, with low conviction rates.
• Civil society action: Organisations like Prajnya and digital-rights groups are pushing for stronger safeguards and survivor support.
• Public campaigns: UN Women India’s 2025 theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”, reflects a growing recognition that online safety is inseparable from women’s rights.

Digital violence is real violence. Only spreading awareness is  not enough, immediate action is a must. Violence against women is preventable. By confronting digital abuse head-on, we can ensure that technology becomes a tool of empowerment, not oppression.

References:

1. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
2. unwomen.org
3. ai.
4. Dhaka Tribune.
5. Nagaland Post

Sanchita Roychowdhury

GOPSAI AVINANDAN SANGHA

Editor