Online Misogyny and AI Complicate Efforts to Combat Violence Against Women, Report Finds

A landmark report released today by the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection (NCVPP) indicates that online misogyny and advancements in artificial intelligence are exacerbating challenges in addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The report, the first from the NCVPP, states that technology is now integral to virtually all forms of VAWG offending, serving as a tool for coercion and abuse and providing a platform for exploitation at scale and with perceived impunity.

Police investigations are reportedly becoming more difficult due to increasingly complex demands, insufficient capacity, and outdated technology, according to the report. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap, director of the NCVPP, described the assessment as providing "the clearest understanding we have ever had of the threats facing women and girls and where we must focus our efforts."

While domestic abuse remains the most significant threat, the report emphasizes the evolving nature of offending through technology and exploitation, particularly for children and young people. It also points to the significant role of repeat perpetrators in driving harm, underscoring the need for earlier risk identification and intervention.

The assessment synthesizes existing data, noting that technological advances are rapidly reshaping the threat landscape. Online abuse, sexual extortion, and image-based abuse, such as revenge porn, are increasingly intertwined with physical world offending, presenting new challenges for law enforcement, safeguarding agencies, and technology providers.

A significant finding highlighted is the prevalence of harmful behavior among children, often influenced by online environments, peer norms, and harmful content. The report acknowledges that while offenses committed by children are taken seriously, some child perpetrators may themselves have experienced vulnerability, trauma, or abuse. Consequently, responses should be proportionate, safeguarding-led, and focused on both accountability and early intervention.

The review suggests that the rise in misogynistic content across mainstream online platforms over the past three years has likely been significantly influenced by algorithmic amplification, which tends to boost sensational or polarizing material, including gender-hostile self-improvement content and anti-feminist material. While specific content creators are not named, the report references the "manosphere" online network, known for promoting anti-feminist beliefs and misogyny.

According to the report's authors, 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 stated that many VAWG offenses may go unreported to the police. The NCVPP aims to improve reporting by enhancing victim confidence in how they will be treated, believed, and protected. The establishment of the NCVPP, the national strategic threat risk assessment, and the focus on identifying and managing high-harm perpetrators are presented as tangible progress toward preventing harm.