Abuse of women journalists made ‘easier and more damaging’ by AI: Study unveils on World Press Freedom Day

The report by UN Women and partners highlights how online violence targeting women in public life is increasingly becoming more technologically sophisticated, invasive and damaging in the artificial intelligence (AI) era.

“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,” said Kalliopi Mingerou, who leads the agency’s team working to end violence against women.

Intimate photos leaked

Tipping point: Online violence impacts, manifestations and redress in the AI age is based on a 2025 survey, with 641 participants from 119 countries responding.

The findings revealed that 12 per cent of women human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other media workers have experienced non-consensual sharing of personal images, including intimate or sexual content. 

Six per cent have been victims of “deepfakes” – AI-generated images that look real – while one in three have received unsolicited sexual advances online.

Some 41 per cent of respondents said they self-censor on social media to avoid abuse, while 19 per cent self-censor in their professional work for the same reason. 

‘Forced into silence’

The picture is even more concerning for women journalists and media workers as harassment has forced 45 per cent to self-censor on social media – a 50 per cent increase over 2020.  Additionally, almost 22 per cent self-censor in their work.

“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,” said one environmental journalist from India.

“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 were also twice as likely to report incidents of online violence to the police compared with 2020 – 22 per cent versus 11 per cent. 

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

Mental health impacts

The report documents the severe toll online violence is having on women’s mental health. 

Nearly a quarter of women journalists and media workers, 24.7 per cent, have been diagnosed with or treated for anxiety or depression. 

Almost 13 per cent have been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

One respondent – a journalist and community organiser – shared how these mental health impacts are linked with self-censorship, discussions around the democratic process, and financial hardship.

“When we speak aloud about democracy, there is no ‘feel’ of democracy – only a ‘demo of craziness,’” she told the researchers.

“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.”

The situation has caused severe financial problems as she is “currently subsisting on rice porridge, a direct consequence of being forced into silence and out of work.”

Lack of legislation

Despite the crisis, significant gaps in legal protection against online violence persist, as World Bank data shows that fewer than 40 per cent of countries have laws that protect women from cyber harassment or cyberstalking.

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

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

The next edition will address a wide range of issues related to online violence towards women in public-facing roles, including analysis of perpetrators’ characteristics and behaviours, and the role of “Big Tech” companies.