British News Agency

UN Women published a report titled "Tipping Point: Online violence impacts, manifestations, and redress in the AI age".

The 2026 report was identified as the second study in the "Tipping Point" series. The report stated that in the age of artificial intelligence, online violence against women in public life has become more technologically sophisticated, intrusive and harmful.

Focusing on women journalists, human rights defenders, activists, writers and other public communicators, the report stated that AI-enabled violence amplifies existing forms of harassment. It noted that deepfake content, manipulated sexual images and videos, and other forms of image-based abuse restrict women's participation in public life.

Based on a global survey conducted in 119 countries in 2025, the report examined the personal and professional effects of online violence on women. According to the report, many women said they had experienced mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in connection with their experiences of online violence.

The report also stated that many participants said they had censored themselves on social media and in their professional lives. Some participants reported incidents of online violence to the police or initiated legal proceedings, while many faced inadequate accountability, victim-blaming and limited avenues for legal redress.

The report emphasized that online violence is not a problem confined to the virtual environment, but an increasingly serious threat to women's safety, freedom of expression, participation in public life and rights.

The study highlighted the need for stronger legal regulations, improved institutional support and greater accountability from technology companies that enable such harms to emerge or spread.