A few months ago, I became a grandmother to a little girl. She cannot walk, and she cannot speak yet. But already her tiny fingers reach for my smartphone. She is attracted to the photos and the colourful apps.
Every time she does this, my instinct is to take the phone away. I want to protect her because I know the dangers. Just like every woman. That instinct to protect is what drives me today, as Commissioner, as a woman, as a mother, and now as a grandmother.
That is why events like this matter so much. Because the people in this room are key to making the digital world safer. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is becoming an epidemic in our societies, from threats, stalking and harassment to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. They can spread like wildfire, with the click of a mouse.
We cannot stay silent. We must do more to stop it. But we can only do it if we all work together because this problem is too big for one country, one institution, or even one continent.
Online is becoming the new front line for violence against women and girls. This abuse severely harms women and girls, and it pushes them out of the digital public square. Our democracy loses half its voice.
AI-facilitated abuse is skyrocketing, especially sexually explicit deepfakes. Countless apps allow anyone to create these images in seconds. The data is shocking. Just last year, at least one in three women in Europe experienced gender-based violence, including online abuse.
A recent US study found nearly 100,000 deepfakes online by 2023, a 550% rise from 2019. Ninety-eight percent were pornographic and almost all non-consensual sexual deepfakes targeted women and girls.
We are seeing a dangerous normalisation of this violence. Under-reporting and weak prosecution create a vicious circle and give perpetrators a sense of impunity. Most EU Member States have laws against gender-based violence, but some still lack specific legislation to tackle cyberviolence.
Our current Gender Equality Strategy calls for stronger cooperation with online platforms to make the online environment safer. Our new Roadmap for Womens Rights reiterates that the digital world must be safe for all women.
Online platforms have a crucial role in tackling technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Of course, these problems start long before they go online. They come from deep-rooted stereotypes and wide-spread sexism, but this violence becomes painfully visible on online platforms, and it is easy to spread.
Many women now feel that going online is simply unsafe. Europeans want stronger action against tech-facilitated abuse. I am pleased to see representatives from online platforms here today. We need you on board and we need to work together.
Europe is taking strong steps against cyberviolence. As Executive Vice President Virkkunen said, our Digital Services Act is a cornerstone of our work to make the digital world safer for women and girls. Online platforms must identify the systemic risks of gender-based violence and take concrete steps to reduce them.
Our Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, adopted last year, puts real force behind the fight against cyberviolence. It criminalises the most widespread forms of gender-based online abuse, such as cyberstalking, incitement to violence, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate or manipulated images.
The Directive also sets clear obligations for online platforms, especially when it comes to removing illegal content, in line with the Digital Services Act. It allows Member State authorities to issue binding legal orders to service providers. It also creates a strong framework for protection, support, and access to justice for victims of cybercrimes.
Prevention is another key pillar. The Directive strengthens digital literacy, so people can recognise cyberviolence and get support. Member States must transpose the rules in the violence against women Directive into national law by June 2027, and the Commission is actively supporting them. Last month, we organised an implementation workshop with Member States focused on tackling gender-based cyberviolence.
Cyberviolence is a poison in the bloodstream of our societies. It seeps everywhere — into our homes, schools, and workplaces. We cannot allow the online world to become the Wild West of the 21st century. Women and girls must be protected.
I am delighted to see so many of you here today who can help make the digital world safer. Each of you helps shape the digital spaces where women and girls live their daily lives. Lets use our power to stop this violence and build a digital world where women can speak, lead, create, and thrive without fear.
