Stopping online violence against women

HOW would you feel if a man asked the public to gang-rape your sister or daughter? 

It’s not just a disturbing thought. It actually happened – right here in Malaysia.

Recently, a user repeatedly posted comments on social media calling for former Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar to be gang-raped. The user described it as a “trial run” in reaction to a political disagreement. It was not private. It was not ambiguous. It was a public incitement to sexual violence.

Let us be clear: This is not just toxic speech. It is an act of aggression.

And it’s part of a much larger, more dangerous trend.

Across Malaysia – and around the world – women in public life are being threatened, harassed, and dehumanised online. Not just politicians, but journalists, lawyers, activists, students, teachers, celebrities, healthcare workers – any female who dares to be visible, vocal, or different.

This form of digital abuse has a name: tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). And it is growing.

From words to violence

What happens online does not always stay online.

According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, six in 10 women MPs in Asia-Pacific have experienced online gender-based violence, including threats of rape and murder. Many report that they now self-censor, withdraw from public engagement, or even consider leaving politics all together. This silencing effect is not limited to politicians, it affects all women in public-facing professions.

A recent United Nations Population Fund technical brief warns that digital abuse can escalate into real-world harm. TFGBV is often a gateway, a first step in a cycle of abuse that can lead to stalking, sexual assault, or even murder. In extreme cases, women have been doxxed (had their private or identifying information published online), hunted down, and attacked in their own homes – simply for what they said or wore online.

In the United States, the consequences of online hate have turned deadly. In recent weeks, lawmakers have been shot, their homes invaded, and their families put in harm’s way. Far-right groups monitor online platforms, using inflammatory language as justification for real-world action. The FBI and Capitol Police (the force that protects Congress) report thousands of threats each year – and experts warn that what starts online can quickly become real.

Closer to home, Malaysian women across professions have spoken up about receiving rape threats, misogynistic slurs, and invasive messages. Women doctors, lawyers, teachers, journalists, many have stories they have never reported because they believe no one will act. More often than not, no one does.

Not just about one person

The case involving Nurul Izzah is emblematic, but it is not unique. It is a flashpoint in a broader crisis where gender-based harassment has become normalised, especially on social media.

The problem is compounded by poor legislation and enforcement. Many reports of online abuse go uninvestigated. When action is taken, it may be inconsistent, overly reliant on colonial-era sedition or defamation laws, or selectively enforced.

At the same time, civil society organisations – many doing vital work – are under-resourced and overburdened.

One of the main goals of our organisation, Seri (Social & Economic Research Initiative), is to make digital safety, especially for women and youth, a top policy priority. In our report “Towards a Safer Digital Space for Children and Youth in Malaysia”, we found that nearly half of Malaysian youth surveyed had witnessed or experienced online harm, including bullying, unwanted sexual advances, and targeted harassment.

The report also highlighted a worrying lack of coordinated enforcement, fragmented reporting systems, and insufficient digital literacy among both youth and adults. Critically, it emphasised that many existing mechanisms – whether by platforms or authorities – are too poorly designed to serve women and children, leaving survivors without redress or protection.

Next steps

Protecting women from digital violence is not about silencing debate; it is about ensuring that free speech does not come at the expense of safety, dignity, and basic human rights.

Seri recommends the following actions:

> Treat TFGBV as a serious crime, not online “drama”: TFGBV must be clearly defined in Malaysian law. This includes cyberstalking, image-based abuse, rape threats, and the non-consensual distribution of personal information. Legal protections should not be limited to politicians or celebrities, they must apply to all women.

> Hold platforms accountable: Social media companies have a duty of care. Malaysia should adopt platform regulation measures like the European Union’s Digital Services Act, adapted to our local context.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Due Diligence and Accountability Framework urges governments to compel platforms to:

(a) Respond quickly to reports of abuse.

(b) Share data on how they handle gender-based hate.

(c) Make safety tools (eg reporting, blocking, filtering) more accessible and effective.

> Invest in survivor-centred systems: As the UN Population Fund notes, survivors of TFGBV often face institutional indifference. We need dedicated reporting channels, trauma-informed police protocols, and clear legal pathways that do not retraumatise victims. Civil society organisations should be supported to provide legal aid and counselling.

> Embed digital safety into education and workplace training: Many young Malaysians grow up with smartphones but without the tools to navigate digital harassment. Schools must teach responsible online behaviour, gender sensitivity, and critical thinking. Employers – especially in media, tech, and healthcare – should offer guidance on preventing and responding to online abuse.

> Normalise respect in political and public discourse: Politicians and influencers set the tone. When leaders and their followers use degrading language or encourage mobs online, it legitimises the abuse that follows. Parties must discipline members who promote hate. Media outlets should adopt editorial standards that humanise – not objectify – women.

Wither free speech?

Some may argue that regulation is a slippery slope to censorship. But the goal is not to stifle dissent, it is to protect women from being driven out of public life all together. The cost of inaction is not theoretical.

When women are harassed into silence, entire sectors lose talent. Democracy suffers. Society becomes more divided. And the message to the next generation of girls is chilling: You can lead – but only if you are willing to be abused for it.

We can do better than that.

DR HELMY HAJA MYDIN

Chairman

Social & Economic Research Initiative (Seri)

Seri is a think tank that works to promote an evidence-based approach to policymaking, to identify and champion policies to eradicate inequality of opportunity and access, and to promote inclusive growth via digital technology.