Fatima Ali
In today’s society, being popular online greatly influences a person’s power and influence. In Pakistan, the country has become a significant player in the digital realm, with over 71.70 million social media users as of January 2023, making up 30.1% of the total population. While this digital presence offers various opportunities, such as economic empowerment, it also brings significant challenges, one of which is the rise of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).
TFGBV involves using the internet and mobile technology to harm individuals based on their sexual or gender identity or to reinforce harmful gender stereotypes. It includes stalking, bullying, sexual harassment, defamation, hate speech, and exploitation. Recent research shows that 40% of women in Pakistan have experienced cyberbullying in forms like sexual harassment, blackmail, hate speech, stalking, identity theft, and physical threats.
Despite the prevalence of these abuses, a vast majority of women in Pakistan (72%) are unaware of cyber laws and the procedures for seeking help from the state. This lack of awareness, along with a cultural stigma that leads 45% of women to feel embarrassed about reporting harassment and doubting the state’s ability to protect their rights, poses a significant barrier to addressing TFGBV.
TFGBV takes different forms, including sextortion, AI attacks on women journalists, image-based abuse, cyberstalking, online grooming, hacking, impersonation, deepfakes, disinformation, cyberbullying, and online harassment. This phenomenon can be explained by social dominance theory, where harassers assert dominance, leaving victims subordinate and silenced. Unfortunately, TFGBV can escalate into physical violence, with online abuse sometimes resulting in the death of victims. Gender plays a critical role in determining vulnerability, with women and gender minorities disproportionately affected.
There have been distressing instances of TFGBV leading to severe consequences in Pakistan. For example, a female student in Sindh tragically ended her life in 2017 after enduring online blackmail and harassment. Additionally, the intersex community faced an organized online hate campaign in 2023, accounting for approximately 1.6% of reported cases.
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The inadequate enforcement of the ‘Prevention of Electronic Crime Act’ (PECA) in Pakistan emphasizes the need for stronger interventions. Federal agencies, often male-dominated, have faced criticism for their failure to restrict online extremist content, prosecute hate speech, and curb online harassment. This underscores the necessity for more inclusive and effective measures to combat TFGBV.
A significant factor contributing to the prevalence of TFGBV is the exclusion of women from technology and digital spheres, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Pakistan, 34% fewer women own mobile devices, and 43% less use mobile internet compared to men. Women, girls, and other vulnerable groups are frequently excluded from policy spaces and leadership opportunities in digital issues. There is also a severe lack of local data on cyber violence, with monitoring and reporting systems often missing women’s perspectives.
The consequences of online violence are severe, often leading to offline harassment, psychological harm, and physical violence. Existing gender-based violence responses and digital regulations fall short of addressing these dynamics. For instance, in 2016, online harassment driven by patriarchal norms resulted in the honour killing of a social media influencer. In 2015, 45% of the 3027 cybercrime cases involved electronic violence against Pakistani women.
Addressing the scourge of TFGBV in Pakistan requires comprehensive strategies to empower women, girls, and gender minorities to participate safely and meaningfully in digital spaces. It is imperative to enhance awareness of cyber laws, dismantle the cultural stigma around reporting harassment, and ensure the effective implementation of protective measures. Only through such concerted efforts can we hope to create a digital environment where all individuals can engage without fear of violence or discrimination.
