The proliferation of online misogyny, amplified by influencers and new technologies like artificial intelligence, is exacerbating violence against women and girls (VAWG), according to a landmark report.
The National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection's (NCVPP) inaugural report reveals that technology is now integral to nearly all forms of VAWG offending, serving as a tool for coercion, abuse, and exploitation at scale. This technological integration presents significant safeguarding challenges and complicates investigations, according to experts.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap, director of the NCVPP, stated that the report offers the most comprehensive understanding to date of the threats women and girls face and where efforts should be concentrated. "Domestic abuse remains the most significant threat, but the assessment also shows how offending continues to evolve through technology, exploitation and the growing risks facing children and young people," Millichap said.
The report's findings are based on an analysis of existing data, which indicates that technological advancements are rapidly reshaping the threat landscape. Online abuse, sexual extortion, and image-based abuse are increasingly interconnected with physical offenses, posing new difficulties for police, safeguarding agencies, and technology companies.
A significant concern highlighted is the extensive harmful behavior occurring among children, often influenced by online environments, peer norms, and harmful content. While acknowledging that offenses committed by children are taken seriously, the report emphasizes the importance of recognizing that some child perpetrators may have experienced vulnerability, trauma, or abuse themselves. Responses should be proportionate, safeguarding-focused, and prioritize both accountability and early intervention to prevent future harm.
According to the report, the surge in misogynistic content across mainstream online platforms over the past three years has likely been influenced by algorithmic amplification, which often promotes sensational or polarizing material, including gender-hostile "self-improvement" content and anti-feminist material. The report does not name specific content creators but notes the influence of the "manosphere," an online network promoting anti-feminist beliefs and misogyny.
The authors argue that the increasing volume of gender-hostile content normalizes harmful attitudes and influences offline behavior, particularly among boys and young men. This creates "volatile and unsafe environments for women, girls and other children."
Millichap acknowledged that many VAWG offenses may go unreported to the police. "We want that to change, and we know that confidence in how victims will be treated, whether they will be believed and whether they will be protected can influence whether someone comes forward," she stated. "What we can do is continue the work to improve."
The establishment of the NCVPP, the development of the national strategic threat risk assessment, and increased focus on identifying and managing high-harm perpetrators are cited as tangible progress. "Every victim matters. Every report matters. And every opportunity we take to prevent harm before it occurs matters," Millichap added. "That is what this assessment is designed to help us achieve."