Original publication published at: https://metropolitana.org.ar/idm/la-violencia-de-genero-tambien-es-digital-desigualdad-de-genero-en-redes-sociales/
Between cyberbullying, non-consensual sharing of images, and identity theft, digital gender violence is increasing. Meanwhile, the institutional response remains weak and fragmented. In this article, we aim to reflect on digital gender violence, its various manifestations, and the responses that municipalities in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) are providing in terms of prevention and assistance tools for women and marginalized groups.
What is digital gender violence?
In the 21st century, digital technologies permeate all aspects of our social life. Virtuality allows the creation of communities, sharing of interests, information gathering, and even entertainment by watching memes while you take the 152 at 6 PM packed with people. However, it is also a breeding ground for hostility, hate speech, and various forms of violence.
According to the Public Defender's Office, digital gender violence is that which is exercised in digital environments through direct or indirect actions against vulnerable groups such as women, lesbians, travestis, and trans individuals. It includes practices such as cyberbullying, doxxing - the publication of personal data without consent - and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
The severe consequences of digital gender violence are evident: women do not feel safe either online or offline, often due to the impunity of aggressors. This expels them from both the digital and physical social spheres, causing psychological, emotional, and economic harm to them and their surroundings. The “Online Violence Report” from the Belém do Pará Convention emphasizes that this phenomenon is not isolated but part of a social context of gender-based discrimination and systemic violence against women and girls.
What data do we have?
In Argentina, there are no official data that allow for a precise understanding of the prevalence of online gender violence, as it is not yet considered in the statistics of the Domestic Violence Office of the Supreme Court, nor is it included in the statistical information on gender violence communications compiled by the former Ministry of Women, Genders, and Diversity.
One of the few existing data points was collected by Amnesty International in 2019, identifying that 1 in 3 women surveyed had suffered violence on social media, of which 26% received direct and/or indirect threats of psychological or sexual violence, 59% received sexual and misogynistic messages, and 34% received messages with abusive language. Additionally, 30% of women victims of digital violence expressed fearing for their physical safety, and 70% reported changing how they use their social media, including stopping posting their opinions online.
A weak regulatory framework
At the international level, there exists a regulatory framework addressing digital violence, framed within the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” of the United Nations. This treaty recognizes the potential of information technologies for human progress while seeking to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, eliminating all forms of violence against them in public and private spheres.
However, despite the increasing digital violence, the response from states remains insufficient. Frequently, the specific regulatory frameworks for this form of violence are non-existent or, if they exist, are not effectively enforced due to lack of clarity or promotion of self-regulation.
The case of Argentina
In legislative terms, digital gender violence is not yet contemplated, and we lack provisions to address the various forms it can take. At the national level, there is only legislation concerning digital violence against children and adolescents (NNA), and the Line 102 of the National Secretariat for Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (SENAF) for situations of digital violence, while some provinces like Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta, and Chaco have more specific legislations.
Furthermore, the Contravention Code of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires already incorporates as a crime the unauthorized sharing of intimate images or recordings for adults (art. 71 bis), digital harassment and stalking (art. 71 ter), sexual harassment (art. 67), and digital impersonation (art. 71 Quinquies).
Today, it is no news that digital sociability is fully naturalized. This pushes us to rethink our interactions and the types of social ties we establish. The digital folklore provided by social media is beautiful, but it is also crucial to reflect on its potential to become a hostile space for a large part of the population. Therefore, building digital environments free from hate speech and gender violence is a social imperative that must ensure a healthy online life for women and marginalized groups so they can enjoy the same memes we laugh at while returning home from work on the 152.
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