A new study by UN Women and partner organisations has found that online violence abuse against women journalists has doubled since 2020, with artificial intelligence making abuse more sophisticated, invasive and harmful.
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Released ahead of World Press Freedom Day (May 3), the report highlights how AI tools are increasingly being used to generate deepfakes, manipulate images and amplify harassment campaigns targeting women in media and public life.
Based on a 2025 global survey involving 641 participants from 119 countries, the study found that 12% of women respondents experienced non-consensual sharing of personal images, including intimate or sexually explicit content. Around 6% reported being targeted by deepfakes or AI-manipulated visuals.
Silencing women journalists online undermines:
🔵 their voices
🔵 their wellbeing
🔵 press freedomAhead of #WorldPressFreedomDay, new EU-funded research by @UN_Women shows how online abuse in the #AI age leads to self-censorship.
🔗 https://t.co/Tp8qxThgCj#ACTtoEndViolence pic.twitter.com/XwzvUf91L9
— UN Women (@UN_Women) April 30, 2026
Researchers warned that AI has significantly lowered the barrier for creating abusive content, making it easier for perpetrators to harass victims at scale while also increasing psychological harm.
The report notes a sharp rise in self-censorship among women journalists and media workers. By the end of 2025, 45% reported self-censoring online, compared to 30% in 2020 — a 50% increase. Many said they limit their speech to avoid harassment or threats.
Nearly a quarter of respondents reported being diagnosed with or treated for anxiety or depression, while about 13% said they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) linked to online abuse.
The findings also show that one in three women faced unsolicited sexual messages online, while cyber harassment increasingly includes “cyber-flashing” and AI-generated “nudification” content sent via private messages.
Despite rising abuse, reporting to authorities remains limited, although there has been some improvement. The share of women journalists reporting incidents to police increased from 11% in 2020 to 22% in 2025, while those pursuing legal action also rose.
However, the report warns that legal protections remain weak globally, with fewer than 40% of countries having adequate laws against cyber harassment or cyberstalking.
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UN Women officials described the trend as part of a broader erosion of digital rights, saying AI-driven abuse is contributing to silencing women in public discourse and weakening freedom of expression.
The report calls for stronger regulation of online platforms, improved legal safeguards, and greater accountability from tech companies to address the growing crisis.