Content warning: Gender-based violence.
In 2020, 20-year-old Moroccan student Amal (name changed) was in a terrible predicament. She had broken up with her boyfriend some time ago and thought that was the end of her association with him. However, to her horror, he started blackmailing her to get back with him and threatened to release a video of them having sex if she refused.
In 2018, Morocco passed a law making violence against women and sexual harassment illegal after more than ten years of advocacy by Moroccan women's rights groups. The law prohibits capturing or broadcasting private images, with violators facing up to three years of imprisonment.
Encouraged by the legislation, Amal reported her ex-boyfriend to a prosecutor.
While she was narrating her ordeal to the prosecutor, the prosecutor suddenly interrupted her testimony and cautioned that if she admitted that the video showed her engaging in sex outside of marriage, she would be forced to arrest her.
The Moroccan Penal Code prohibits sexual relations outside of marriage, and individuals who violate this law can face a prison term of one to two years.
Distressed by the turn of events, Amal sought the help of lawyer and activist Ghizlane Mamouni, who was also flummoxed by the conflict between the two laws.
“The prosecutor was right. I can’t fight against this written law,” she says.
Mamouni does not know what became of Amal, but this case made her feel miserable as a woman and a lawyer.
Amal experienced Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which refers to any act of gender-based violence carried out or made worse by digital methods.
Dutch non-profit Rutgers conducted a study in partnership with various non-profits in seven countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to better understand the dynamics of TFGBV, the accountability mechanisms in place, how they function, and any ongoing efforts to address it.
The research shows that technology and online platforms are being increasingly used to harm women and other vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQI+ individuals. This is part of a pervasive culture that infiltrates workplaces, schools, and homes, making it difficult for individuals to escape.
The study has also found that legislation has been introduced in multiple countries to tackle TFGBV, but some of these laws actually put a survivor of TFGBV at risk of being charged with a crime under competing and conflicting laws.
“This is what the report has called the ‘legal double-edged sword,’” says Loes Loning, research lead on TFGBV at Rutgers.
As of April 2024, 5.44 billion people worldwide were using the internet, which is about 67.1 percent of the total global population. Moreover, more than half of the world's population now owns a smartphone, and 95% of the global population has access to mobile broadband.
“When we talk about Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), we often think of online platforms and social media, which are certainly part of it. However, TFGBV also includes offline forms such as stalking and the use of tracking devices,” says Loning.
“There are also cases where people with disabilities may rely on technology, which can then be used to control or harm them. So, the term ‘technology’ covers a wide range of ways in which violence can occur and how it can be made worse through the use of technology,” she adds.
One of the key at-risk groups experiencing TFGBV are women’s rights advocates and female politicians.
In 2022, King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced his plan to reform the “Moudawana”, the family code. The new family code introduced progressive laws governing marriage, divorce, polygamy, inheritance, and child custody, a move that conservatives have strongly opposed.
In March of this year, Moroccan civil society groups organised and led campaigns supporting changes that promote women's rights and gender equality, advocating for modifications to the family code.
Mamouni, who is also the president of the non-profit organisation Kif Mama Kif Baba, participated in a demonstration in front of the family and a national campaign urging the overhaul of the antiquated laws that was broadcast widely.
Soon after, she and 20 other women's rights activists started receiving violent death threats online, calling them enemies of Islam.
"It was very frightening. When you receive messages saying, ‘I know what school your kids go to. I know your address,’ it's not something that is limited to the virtual world anymore; it's a real-life worry and anxiety," says Mamouni.
Longing says that "the online world is real, and the threats that women experience online have a physical, financial, and emotional impact. When you are threatened, your body and nervous system respond in the same way, whether it's a physical threat or an online threat."
Patience Ahumuza, a communications professional and influencer from Uganda, highlights the need for a community for TFGBV survivors as it has a huge impact on mental health.
Besides taking digital safety and data protection classes to secure herself online, Ahumuza, who has experienced TFGBV, has created a community of women to support each other and fight back.
"Online violence is translating into physical violence and mental health issues. To address these issues, I have created an online community. If someone is being harassed or attacked, or if one’s image is posted without consent, a group of women will come to report it," she says.
Loning suggests that greater awareness and education should be provided regarding the risks of online activity and ways to protect oneself. However, she emphasises that individuals experiencing TFGBV should not be responsible for changing or withdrawing from online spaces, as this is often the expectation.
Another significant gender disparity in TFGBV is its impact on women in politics.
The research found that while all politicians face harsh criticism online, male politicians are criticised for their policies and political decision-making. In contrast, women are often attacked for their appearance or for not conforming to traditional gender roles.
In response, female politicians often opt for silence as a tactic instead of speaking out about their experiences, as they run the risk of being branded as "hysterical" and deemed unsuitable for political careers.
The report strongly emphasises the interconnectedness of online and offline violence, which results in spillover between the two spaces.
It recommends that governments and legislators collaborate with tech companies when addressing violence on online platforms and that the online-offline continuum should be considered when creating laws and safety measures, as it raises questions about accountability.
Who is responsible when an act of violence starts online but then moves offline?
Is it the tech platforms where it originated or the authorities to whom it's reported when it transitions offline?
“So, it's essential for these areas to be clearly defined and for all parties involved to take responsibility, collaborate, and work together to address this issue. It cannot be done in isolation,” says Loning.
However, laws alone can be insufficient to address TFGBV.
Indonesia has a new law that protects against TFGBV. However, when survivors report to the authorities, they are often brushed off as this is just an online case; it's not as serious.
“So these perceptions are quite strong, and even when laws are in place, their effective implementation needs to be a priority as well,” adds Loning.
Another key finding of the study that deserves serious consideration is that TFGBV is often not brought about by technology but instead is enabled by it.
[Gender Based] Violence originates through social and cultural notions of morality and patriarchal gender norms and is amplified through technology.
Therefore, Loning says that to address TFGBV, tech companies need to address safety, but society in general needs to become safer for women as well.