Deepfakes and online abuse driving women from public life: UN Women study
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New Delhi: Deepfakes, AI-assisted "virtual rape", and unwanted advances are forcing women out of public roles, according to a new report by UN Women, City St George’s (University of London), and data forensics firm TheNerve.
The study, surveying 641 women journalists, activists, and human rights defenders from 119 countries in late 2025, highlights increasingly sophisticated tech-driven violence that amplifies misogyny and erodes rights amid rising authoritarianism.
Key findings include 27% of respondents facing unsolicited sexual advances via DMs, such as cyberflashing or non-consensual sexting; 12% having personal or intimate images shared without consent; and 6% targeted by deepfakes or manipulated media.
These coordinated attacks aim to silence women, damage credibility, and harm reputations, leading to widespread mental health issues: 24% reported anxiety or depression, 13% PTSD diagnoses, 41% self-censoring on social media, and 19% at work.
While 25% reported incidents to police and 15% pursued legal action, many faced victim-blaming, with authorities often urging women to go offline or step back professionally.
"AI-assisted ‘virtual rape’ is now at perpetrators' fingertips... accelerating harm from online violence," said lead author Julie Posetti, Professor of Journalism at City St George’s.
Co-author Lea Hellmueller noted law enforcement often outsources protection to survivors, advising them to avoid public visibility.
(Inputs from IANS)