Young and Ethnic Minority Women Targeted Online, Research Finds

Online Abuse Has a Severe Impact on the Everyday Life of Women

One such form of harassment that is a problem almost exclusively for women according to the study, is that of AI-generated deepfakes. “Such attacks can have a deep emotional and psychological impact,” the researchers said; “They can also be used to discredit, silence, and push women out of traditionally male-dominated spaces.” Indeed, when it came to the types of online abuse that have the most severe impact on the everyday life of women, including self-esteem, mental health, and financial wellbeing issues, the report was clear: AI deepfakes and revenge porn, as well as doxxing, topped the list.

Women of Color Affected Most by Online Abuse

The research confirmed that women from mixed ethnic backgrounds experienced the highest rates of online abuse at 37%, with Latina or Hispanic women also experiencing very high rates at 31%. Other ethnicities didn’t fare much better, with African American women on 27% and Asian or Pacific Islander women on 26%. While white women came in at the lowest abuse rate, 21%, that’s still more than 1 in 5 women experiencing online harassment and abuse.

Federal Law Does Not Properly Protect Women Online

“Survey respondents overwhelmingly expressed dissatisfaction with the level of protection U.S. laws are able to provide victims of online harassment,” the report stated; “Indeed, despite the growing prevalence of online abuse, the U.S. legal system has yet to fully address many of the threats women face in digital spaces.”

Gaps in Federal Legislation

• The lack of a federal data privacy law.
• No federal anti-doxxing law.
• Unclear legal status of AI deepfakes.

Conclusion

As digital spaces continue to evolve, ensuring that they remain safe and accessible for all users remains a complex, ongoing challenge. A big part of that challenge is a legal one, which is necessary if women are to feel protected online moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the extent of online abuse among women in the US?
A: The research found that 1 in 4 American women experience online abuse, with 1 in 8 indicating that they suffered from cybercrimes resulting from having personal data available online.

Q: What forms of online abuse affect women disproportionately?
A: Cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and trolling affect women disproportionately, with AI deepfakes, revenge porn, and doxxing being particularly severe forms of harassment.

Q: What are the gaps in federal legislation that leave women vulnerable online?
A: The lack of a federal data privacy law, no federal anti-doxxing law, and unclear legal status of AI deepfakes are the three gaps in federal legislation that leave women vulnerable online.