Protect women from rising online gender-based violence

Women are frequent targets of online gender-based violence. [iStockphoto]

As the world commemorates the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV), it is paramount for us to critically analyse the role that technology plays in advancing violence against women. Digitisation has resulted in the prevalence of technology-facilitated GBV against women and girls globally.

The United Nations Populations Fund defines Technology Facilitated GBV as an act of violence perpetrated by one or more individuals that is committed, assisted, aggravated and amplified in part or fully by the use of information and communication technologies or digital media against a person based on their gender.

While the emergence and growth of social media platforms has advanced access to information, these same spaces house content that is generated from gossip and rumours that translate to online violence against women and girls.

A report by the Kenya ICT Action Network on the challenges faced by Kenyan women on the internet lists non-consensual distribution of intimate images, sexual harassment, stalking, hate speech, offensive comments and body shaming as some of the most prominent violations of their rights across digital platforms.

Notably, professional and prominent women, including women human rights defenders, women in politics, journalists, women with disabilities, lesbian, bisexual or transgender women and women from marginalised groups, are frequent targets of online gender-based violence.

On X (formerly Twitter), online GBV is budding and thriving to greater heights in Kenya. Cyberbullying and direct or indirect intimidation have become the order of the day with little to no remorse for the victims. These attacks are often sexualised and lean towards personal traits and appearances.

Women politicians in Kenya have been particularly vulnerable to image-based disinformation campaigns that manipulate media to sexualise them, create false narratives, and divert attention away from substantive political discourse. Women with public-facing careers have also been subject to online ridicule and humiliation over the nature of intimate relationships and their marital status. The true extent of online violence against women and girls remains unknown partly due to the limited data available. Studies indicate that more than one in five women in Kenya reported having experienced online harassment.

The lack of responsiveness to the effects of online violence against women may uphold patriarchal attitudes online where men, once more, have priority over women and take it as their responsibility to silence women or access online spaces to engage in public discourse in society.

Technology-facilitated GBV against women and girls has become a life-threatening and widespread human rights violation worldwide. It is cross-jurisdictional and, on several occasions, has culminated in femicide or the deliberate murder of women and girls. It devastates lives and fractures families and communities. Survivors and victims suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

Kenya has taken significant steps towards addressing online-based GBV. In addition to the specialised courts handling sexual and GBV established in Shanzu, in March 2023, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, in partnership with UNESCO, launched a national coalition on Freedom of Expression and content moderation in Kenya titled "Social Media for Peace."

The coalition seeks to strengthen the resilience of civil society to potentially harmful content spread online while protecting freedom of expression and promoting peace through digital technologies. There is however no mention of interventions to handle online GBV.

Despite the various interventions taken, we continue to grapple with lack of laws that adequately address novel forms of GBV, including voyeurism, which involves obtaining intimate data and images for sexual purposes, sexploitation, which involves the commercial distribution of sexual material produced non-consensually, sextortion which involves coercion to perform particular acts amidst threats of release of intimate images and doxing which involves the publication of a person's private information without consent.

Tangible measures need to be taken to establish mechanisms for protecting women and girls against digital harms and violations.

Ms Bosibori is an Advocate of the High Court Working at ICJ Kenya