Artificial intelligence (AI) is exacerbating online violence against women in public life, making abuse more sophisticated, invasive, and damaging, according to a new report by UN Women and its partners. The study highlights how AI’s capabilities are intensifying the erosion of hard-won rights in a climate of democratic backsliding and networked misogyny.
AI Fuels Online Harassment and Its Damaging Impact
“AI is making abuse easier and more damaging, and this is fueling the erosion of hard-won rights,” stated Kalliopi Mingerou, who leads UN Women’s team dedicated to ending violence against women. This assessment comes from the “Tipping point: Online violence impacts, manifestations and redress in the AI age” report, which is based on a 2025 survey of 641 participants from 119 countries.
The findings indicate that 12% of women human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and other media workers have experienced the non-consensual sharing of personal images, including intimate or sexual content. Furthermore, 6% have been victims of “deepfakes” – AI-generated realistic images – and one in three have received unsolicited sexual advances online.
A significant portion of respondents, 41%, reported self-censoring on social media to avoid abuse. This self-censorship extends to professional work, with 19% modifying their output for the same reason.
Women Journalists Face Increased Self-Censorship and Reporting
The situation is particularly dire for women journalists and media workers. Harassment has compelled 45% of them to self-censor on social media, marking a 50% increase since 2020. Nearly 22% also engage in self-censorship in their professional roles.
One environmental journalist from India shared, “When right-wing groups online brand me a ‘traitor,’ and thousands of WhatsApp forwards spread these false allegations, simply living in my own country becomes terrifying.” The journalist added, “We have begun to self-censor, withdrawing from investigative reporting. This is because local right-wing operatives, fueled by these posts, have confronted my relatives and spoken rudely to them. It is not easy to live freely; we are forced into silence.”
Women journalists and media workers are now twice as likely to report incidents of online violence to the police compared to 2020, with reporting rates rising from 11% to 22%. They are also more inclined to pursue legal action against perpetrators, enablers, or employers, with this figure increasing from 8% in 2020 to 14% in 2025.
Mental Health Toll of Online Violence
The report underscores the severe mental health consequences of online violence. Approximately 24.7% of women journalists and media workers have been diagnosed with or treated for anxiety or depression. Additionally, nearly 13% have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
One respondent, a journalist and community organizer, linked these mental health impacts to self-censorship, discussions about the democratic process, and financial hardship. “When we speak aloud about democracy, there is no ‘feel’ of democracy – only a ‘demo of craziness,’” she stated. “Unable to cope with the relentless pressure, I resigned from my job in December 2023. I am now sitting at home, focused solely on restoring my mental wellness.” This situation has led to severe financial problems, with the respondent subsisting on rice porridge due to being forced out of work.
Legislative Gaps in Combating Online Violence
Despite the escalating crisis, significant gaps in legal protection against online violence persist. World Bank data indicates that fewer than 40% of countries have laws specifically protecting women from cyber harassment or cyberstalking.
Ms. Mingerou emphasized the collective responsibility to ensure that systems, laws, and platforms address this crisis with the necessary urgency. This report is the second in a series based on the global survey, with future editions planned to examine perpetrator characteristics, behaviors, and the role of major technology companies.
