Last month, Detective Constable Carter spoke to us about the many ways we can be lured into online scams. It was an eye-opening presentation, with some surprising insights into how easy it is for scammers to glean information about potential targets.
It’s not unexpected then, that the theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence is “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”. Cited by the UN as one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse, women and girls are disproportionately affected by digital violence. During this year’s 16 Days of Activism, which run from November 25th to December 10th, the goal is to draw attention to this form of abuse and to pressure governments to do more to prevent it and punish it.
Heather Mallick, one of my favourite Toronto Star columnists, repeatedly warns her female readers, “Never underestimate how much you are hated.” A bleak view, indeed, but certainly a reflection of the many ways women and girls suffer abuse in this world. Despite its role in enhancing our lives, the internet has also provided more opportunities for abuse to happen.
Digital violence takes many forms and can begin early in a girl’s life. Having a social media presence makes girls vulnerable to cyberbullying – being called names online, having rumours spread about them, being shunned by the group. I’ve seen this happen as early as elementary school. The emotional fallout from cyberbullying can be devastating, and in its own way, can be just as bruising as a physical beating. The reach of social media means that the humiliation of the cyberbullied victim is out there for hundreds, if not thousands to see. We’ve all read about cases where cyberbullying has led to suicide.
As devastating as cyberbullying is, there are even more dangerous forms of digital violence. Sexual predators can easily access their prey, often young girls, through social media and online gaming sites.
Cyberstalking, including the use of GPS trackers, can put women at risk for physical harm. And then there’s revenge porn – the nonconsensual posting of intimate photos and videos by a previous sexual partner as revenge for breaking up with him. The advent of AI and its ability to create realistic fake videos offers more new opportunities for digital violence.
Not even position or power can shield a woman from digital violence. Female journalists, activists, and politicians face a whole level of abuse that men in those positions don’t experience. From attacks on their appearance to threats of rape, women in the public sphere are particularly vulnerable to abuse from those who don’t agree with what they’re doing or saying.
It has been especially difficult to stop digital violence. The UN lists a number of reasons why this has been the case, including lack of accountability from tech platforms and social networking sites, the anonymity of abusers, weak regulation of the tech sector, and a lack of legal recognition of digital violence. The tide is turning however, with the UN recognizing the extent and impact of digital violence against girls and women, and creating the Global Digital Compact in 2024, which sets UN-wide standards for digital safety and AI governance. Here in Canada, sharing intimate images without consent is an offence under the Criminal Code, as is criminal harassment, be it by texts, emails or other communications. Ontario’s Education Act defines cyberbullying and provides guidelines for schools on how to address it.
There is, however, more work to be done. For more information about digital violence, check out UN Women – 16 Days of Activism, Government of Canada – Online Violence, and RCMP – Bullying and Cyberbullying. As individuals, we can educate ourselves about online dangers. We can pass on our knowledge to our friends, our daughters, and our granddaughters. We can raise our sons to become men who respect rather than abuse women. We can support our community’s activities during this year’s 16 Days of Activism. We will let you know once we hear what is planned in our region. It won’t be an easy fight, but it’s a battle that women and their male allies have to engage in. One way to start is with our own Candlelight Vigil (as mentioned in our November Newsletter on page 1) taking place on December 6. I hope to see you there.