We need stronger global efforts to protect human rights online
As millions of people are moving work and social interactions online to protect themselves from COVID-19, existing online safety measures may not be enough to deal with a surge in harassment and abuse.
Concerns about rising levels of scamming and harassment prompted online safety organisation to users to maintain vigilance. This abuse has included threats of violence and explicit .
Online abuse breaches several human rights. We argue that governments have obligations under international law and should establish a digital human rights charter, with special protections built in for women and children.
Cyber violence against women
Online platforms replicate culture with all its offline risks and inequalities.
Offline, discrimination against women permeates , including the family, education, the workplace, the legal system and government. Discrimination manifests in different ways, including .
These unequal gender dynamics , resulting in women being subjected to sexist, misogynistic and violent content. In 2018, a UN women's human rights expert as a specific form of violence against women.
In a , nearly a quarter (23%) of women surveyed across eight developed countries said they had experienced online abuse or harassment more than once. Of those women, 41% felt their physical safety was threatened on at least one occasion.
In New Zealand, a third of women reported being victims of online harassment. Of those who experienced abuse online:
- 75% had trouble sleeping well
- 49% felt their personal safety was at risk
- 32% felt the safety of their families was at risk
- 72% were less able to focus on everyday tasks
- 70% experienced lower self-esteem or loss of self-confidence
- two-thirds felt a sense of powerlessness.
Almost half (49%) reduced their use of social media or left platforms altogether.
The UN's Human Rights Council identified as a significant reason for the .
Online violence against women by (mostly) men is especially persistent on social media platforms like , and . It includes online harassment, cyberstalking, "doxing" (where private information is shared by others online) and .
Obligations of governments and online platforms
Cyber violence breaches international human rights laws, including the (fewer women are likely to share their opinions or thoughts online), the , the (including potentially life-saving updates about COVID-19) and the .
International human rights law applies both .
Social media platforms have created to protect users' human rights, but they may not be evolving fast enough during disruptive times such as we are experiencing now. The massive increase in use is likely to amplify the .
Governments around the world have been slow to use their legislative powers to regulate online platforms. The live streaming of the Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 2019 highlighted the platforms' failure to control the spread of hateful content.
An to eliminate violent extremist content online has been difficult to achieve.
Protecting rights and lives online
While platforms remain global with "one size fits all" community standards, governments have different responses to restricting individual freedom of expression.
Governments should consider establishing an international charter on digital human rights, which all social media platforms could adopt. Such a charter would enable a coherent and consistent response to cyber violence, in a world that is now almost exclusively online.
There are some practical steps we can all take. These steps include , people or groups, and closely monitoring connections.
If you are experiencing serious online bullying, harassment, revenge porn or other forms of abuse and intimidation, under the .
Provided by The Conversation
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