Online gender-based violence or through the use of new technologies refers to a range of abusive practices that fall within the definition of gender-based violence as reflected in General Recommendation 19 of the UN CEDAW Convention (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979), which states that “gender-based violence is violence directed against women because they are women or disproportionately affects women.

It includes any act that results in physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering, including threats of such acts, coercion or other forms of deprivation of liberty”.

Below you will find a glossary of terminologies of the most common forms of gender-based violence online or through the use of new technologies. Please note that the list is not exhaustive and focuses on the main forms.

The sources used are: a) European Women’s Lobby (2017), #HerNetHerRights – Mapping the state of online violence against women and girls in Europe, b) Women’s Media Center – Online abuse.

“Revenge porn”

The use and online posting of personal photographs and videos of sexual content with the aim of humiliating the victim. The images may also be the product of interception, through electronic intrusion into the victim’s computer, social media accounts or mobile phone.

This practice is often intended to cause significant harm to the life of the person targeted (e.g. dismissal). Research shows that 90% of victims are women, and the total number of incidents has been systematically increasing in recent years. At the same time, the number of websites dedicated to the dissemination of ‘revenge porn’ is increasing.

On these sites, users can submit not only audiovisual material but also personal information such as the victim’s address, place of work and social media accounts. For instance, only for January 2017, Facebook was asked to evaluate 54,000 potential cases of “revenge pornography”, suspending the operation of 14,000 accounts.

It is worth noting that the phenomenon of “revenge porn” became widely known through the case of Danish journalist Emma Holten, whose nude photos were posted online. Holten defended herself by posting nude photos of herself in a successful attempt to regain control.

Image based sexual abuse 

In 2015, the term Image based sexual abuse was first introduced by Mc Glynn & Rackley (1), who were critical to the term ‘revenge porn’, arguing that it refers to only one form of a whole range of embedded, sexualised forms of abuse, which have in common that they are part of what has been described as the “continuum of sexual abuse through images”.

This conceptualisation is based on two arguments: firstly that there is a continuum of practices that together constitute the concept of sexual abuse through images and secondly that sexual abuse through images is part of the more general continuum of gender/sexual violence.

In addition, the term “revenge pornography” was considered not to adequately describe the actions it is used for and does not express the nature and extent of the harm caused. Indeed, many of the laws currently in force cover particular aspects of “revenge pornography”, while most of them have a limited scope and therefore provide limited restoration.

The result is that this term is widely applied although it has a limited “scope”. In contrast, the conceptualisation based on the continuum of sexual abuse through images goes beyond these boundaries and further highlights the non-consensual creation and distribution of private sexual images.

Sexist hate speech

“Εxpressions which spread, incite, promote or justify hatred based on sex” according to the Council of Europe definition. In practice, the term refers to threats of rape, murder and torture addressed to women and girls. This practice is rooted in gender stereotypes and rape culture.

Creep shots/digital voyeurism

Online voyeurism is the surreptitious taking of photographs or videos focusing on women’s genitals for sexual pleasure. In some cases, the sexual pleasure comes from the illegal act itself, the lack of knowledge and consent of the woman pictured and the violation of her privacy.

Often these photos are posted online accompanied by a hashtag such as #creepshot. The term “up skirting” (illegally taking photos under a woman’s skirt/clothes) was invented by Gina Martins, who was a victim of a man who “placed his phone between her legs and took photos of her crotch in broad daylight”.

Her complaint to the police and her lobbying for a change in the law led to an extensive public debate in the UK.

Cyber bullying

Repetitive behaviours such as sending malicious messages, making up rumours or posting pictures to intimidate and undermine the self-esteem and reputation of women/girls. This abusive practice has led some victims to depression or even suicide.

Cyber harassment: the use of digital media to harass a person, often children and minors. In the context of cyber sexual harassment,  aggressive sexist and abusive comments are used.

Cyber stalking

The online monitoring, information gathering and repeated, harassing communication with the victim without their consent.

Malicious leakage of personal data (doxxing)

The online searching and posting of personal data with the intent to expose, publicly humiliate and morally discredit the targeted individual.

Online intrusion (hacking)

The hacking of private communications and data, which may be targeted at women or girls, particularly in the form of computer camera intrusion.

Online impersonation

The use of another person’s identity to harm, deceive and/or threaten another person. It can be used to defame a woman in her social and professional circle or for criminal purposes.

Malicious distribution

The use of digital tools to spread defamatory material. It includes the use of technology as a propaganda tool to promote violence against women, the mobilisation of violent reactions against activists e.g. who defend the legalisation of abortion, women’s rights, etc.

Mob attacks

A hostile mob of hundreds and/or thousands of people who systematically harass a particular individual via the internet, often with the aim of publicly humiliating them.

Abusive sexting

The publication of private messages with sexual content on the internet without the consent of all parties who have exchanged or shared this material, with the purpose of shaming the victim. Research shows that the most likely perpetrators of this offence are men and boys.

Recruitment

The use of digital media to deceive and subsequently trap potential victims (mainly girls and women) in international human trafficking networks (more here)

In real life attacks (IRL trolling)

The term describes incidents in which online abuse evolves into attacks in the real / physical life of the individual, e.g. stalking. It also describes the attempt to intimidate a person by informing them that the abuser knows their address and place of work.

(1) Mc Glynn, C., Rackley E., (2015), New law on ‘‘revenge pornography’’ is ‘‘unlikely’’ to tackle hackers distributing intimate images. Holyrood, 18 November