LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, a newly released report warned that growing online violence against women journalists is harming their safety, mental health, and ability to work freely, especially in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
Published by UN Women and its partners, the study shows that online attacks targeting women journalists have sharply increased since 2020.
The findings highlight how digital abuse is becoming more prevalent, aggressive and complex in the media space, particularly with the rise of AI tools.
Observed every year on May 3, World Press Freedom Day highlights the importance of a free press and the safety of journalists.
Basically, press freedom remains a key pillar of democracy, a principle reinforced by the Windhoek Declaration, which helped shape global commitment to protecting journalists.
The latest report titled Tipping Point: Online Violence Impacts, Manifestation and Redress in the AI Age paints a troubling picture.
Revealing how digital abuse is not only increasing but evolving, the study was carried out through a 2025 survey of 641 respondents across 119 countries, including journalists, activists, and human rights defenders.
The lead of UN Women’s fight against violence faced by women, Kalliopi Mingerou, said, “AI is making abuse easier and more damaging, and this is fueling the erosion of hard-won rights in a context marked by democratic backsliding and networked misogyny.”
The data revealed alarming patterns. About 12 percent of respondents said their personal or intimate images were shared without consent.
Another six percent reported being targeted by deepfake content, while one in three said they had received unwanted sexual messages online.
For women journalists, the situation is even more severe. Nearly half said they now avoid posting freely on social media due to fear of harassment, marking a sharp rise since 2020.
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Also, over one-fifth admitted they hold back in their professional reporting to stay safe.
One journalist from India described the fear caused by online attacks, stating, “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. 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.”
Beyond limiting free expression, the report also highlighted serious health impacts.
Nearly 25 percent of women journalists said they have been treated for anxiety or depression, while close to 13 percent reported symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Another respondent linked online abuse directly to job loss and financial hardship.
“When we speak aloud about democracy, there is no ‘feel’ of democracy – only a ‘demo of craziness.’ 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,” she noted.
Adding that the impact has been severe, she said, “I am currently subsisting on rice porridge, a direct consequence of being forced into silence and out of work.”
Notably, more women are beginning to seek justice. Report of abuse have been filed in police stations, doubling the number since 2020, and legal action against offenders, including technology platforms, is also increasing.
Still, protection remains limited, with global data showing that fewer than 40 percent of countries have laws addressing cyber harassment or stalking.
Mingerou stressed the urgency of stronger safeguards, saying, “our responsibility is to ensure that systems, laws and platforms respond with the urgency this crisis demands.”
She ultimately called to governments, tech companies, and institutions to strengthen protections for women journalists, ensuring they can work without fear in an increasingly digital world.
(NAN)
