GENDER-BASED AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE DIGITAL AGE

CURRENT STATE OF ONLINE GENDERED & SEXUAL VIOLENCE

The current state of online gendered and sexual violence presents a stark reality, where women, particularly women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities face disproportionate levels of harassment, exploitation, and abuse. Online platforms enable bad actors to perpetuate harmful stereotypes, threats of violence, and non-consensual sharing of intimate content with alarming ease. The intersection of gender, gender identity, race, disability, and sexual orientation exacerbate the risks faced by marginalized communities, amplifying vulnerability to violence and harassment.

CURRENT STATE OF TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED VIOLENCE & ABUSE

The current landscape of addressing technology-facilitated violence and abuse is deeply intertwined with the provisions outlined in Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act was intended to foster innovation and free speech on the internet, but unintentionally created a loophole that allows platforms to evade accountability for facilitating harmful content.  There is no federal criminal law that prohibits the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images. Federal legislation often lags behind the rapid advancements in technology, leaving significant gaps in protection for victims of technology-facilitated gender-based and sexual violence. These, in addition to the rapidly evolving nature of technology, has created significant challenges to addressing these issues effectively.