tech & gbv
In today’s digital world, technology is woven into every part of our lives; how we work, connect, communicate, and move through the world. While it offers many benefits, it also opens new doors for harm. One concerning development is the rise of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which is increasingly troubling in Australia, especially for women and marginalised communities.
Although gender-based violence is deeply rooted in societal structures and attitudes, digital technology has expanded its reach and impact. It allows harassers and stalkers to intimidate their targets with unprecedented speed and anonymity. The consequences are often profoundly traumatic, silencing victims and reinforcing harmful stereotypes both online and offline.
This blog explores what TFGBV is, how it manifests, and why it is urgent to understand and combat it.
What is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence?
Gender-based violence refers to any harmful act, physical or non-physical, aimed at individuals because of biased or harmful beliefs about their gender (Australian Government 2024).
TFGBV is a form of gender-based violence that occurs online or through the use of digital technologies. It encompasses a variety of abusive behaviours, such as:
· Online Harassment: including unwanted sexual messages, threats, and bullying.
· Image-Based Abuse: non-consensual sharing of intimate images and the use of AI-generated deepfakes.
· Cyberstalking and Digital Surveillance: where perpetrators track or monitor a person’s movements without consent.
· Doxing: publishing someone’s private information (such as home address or phone numbers) with the intent to harm.
· Defamation: spreading false or damaging information.
Who is Most Affected?
While TFGBV can target anyone, research shows women and young girls experience it at significantly higher rates than men, particularly among those from backgrounds such as:
· First Nations
· People with Disability
· Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
· LGBTQIA+
For many of these groups, technology becomes another weapon in the toolbox of existing inequalities, further exacerbating harm and marginalisation.
Why Should You Care?
A recent study highlights Australians’ attitudes towards coercive behaviours via technology, revealing a normalisation of controlling behaviours in relationships (Scott 2024). For instance, the expectation that a partner should have access to passwords or codes on personal devices is often seen as normal. This mindset is worrying because it often goes unnoticed or unchallenged, enabling behaviours that can be manipulative and controlling.
One of the most insidious ways technology is used to perpetuate gender-based violence is through tracking apps, which allow perpetrators to monitor their victims in real life. Such usage of these apps generates a constant state of fear and anxiety, impacting victims both psychologically and physically. Tragically, this type of surveillance is not an isolated problem but a widespread reality, especially among women experiencing family violence.
It is vital, however, to recognise that while technology can facilitate these harmful acts, the responsibility and blame lie with the perpetrators who exploit it for control. We cannot address gender-based online violence and abuse solely by reporting and deleting it. To effectively tackle this issue, we must challenge the culture that sustains it.
Support Services
GenWest: 1800 436 937
Safe Steps: 1800 015 188
The Orange Door: Call or visit your closest service
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Reporting Options
