Harassment of female journalists made ‘easier and more damaging’ by AI

That report by UN Women and its partners highlight how online violence targeting women in public life is increasingly technologically sophisticated, invasive, and destructive in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

“AI makes abuse easier and more damaging, and this fuels the erosion of hard-won rights in a context marked by democratic backsliding and networked misogyny,” said Kalliopi Mingerou, who leads the agency’s team working to end violence against women.

Intimate photos leaked

Key points: Impact, manifestation and redress of online violence in the AI ​​era is based on a 2025 survey, with 641 participants from 119 countries responding.

These findings reveal that 12 percent of female human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other media workers have experienced sharing personal images without consent, including intimate or sexual content.

Six percent have fallen victim to “deepfakes” – AI-generated images that look real – while one in three people receive unsolicited sexual advances online.

A number of 41 percent of respondents said they self-censor on social media to avoid misuse, temporarily 19 percent practice self-censorship in their professional work for the same reason.

‘Forced silence’

This picture is even more concerning for female journalists and media workers as harassment has forced 45 percent to self-censor on social media – a 50 percent increase compared to 2020. Additionally, nearly 22 percent self-censor in their work.

“When right-wing groups online branded me a ‘traitor’, and thousands of WhatsApp users spread these false accusations, just living in my own country became scary,” said an environmental journalist from India.

“We have started to self-censor, withdrawing from investigative reporting. This is because local right-wing groups, sparked by this post, have confronted my relatives and spoken harshly to them. It’s not easy to live freely; we are forced to remain silent.”

Female journalists and media workers also experience the same thing twice as likely to report incidents of online violence to the police compared to 2020 – 22 percent versus 11 percent.

They are also now more likely to take legal action against perpetrators, enablers (such as technology companies) or employers – from eight percent in 2020 to 14 percent in 2025.

Mental health impacts

The report documents the devastating impact of online violence on women’s mental health.

Almost quarter female journalists and media workers, 24.7 percent, have experienced this diagnosed or treated for anxiety or depression.

Nearly 13 percent have been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

One respondent – ​​a journalist and community organizer – shared how these mental health impacts were linked to self-censorship, discussions around the democratic process, and financial difficulties.

“When we talk loudly about democracy, there is no ‘feel’ of democracy – there is only a ‘demonstration of madness’,” he told the researchers.

“Unable to cope with the relentless pressure, I resigned from my job in December 2023. I am now sitting at home, just focusing on recovering my mental health.”

This situation has caused severe financial problems as he “currently only eats porridge, which is a direct result of being forced to remain silent and losing his job.”

Lack of legislation

Despite this crisis, significant gaps in legal protection against online violence persist World Bank data show that less than 40 percent of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyberstalking.

Ms. Mingerou stressed that “our responsibility is to ensure that systems, laws and platforms respond with the urgency that this crisis demands.”

This report is the second in a series based on a global survey.

The next edition will discuss various issues related to online violence against women who play a public role, including analysis of the characteristics and behavior of perpetrators, and the role of “Big Tech” companies.

For more on this and other important information on press freedom, and the increasing number of journalists under fire around the world, visit our live coverage of the UN marking the international day on Monday.