Online abuse requires greater accountability from tech companies

A report by the Swedish Gender Equality Agency on the digital dimensions of violence shows that children and young people face widespread risks online.

Among girls in upper secondary school, 38 per cent say that they were subjected to sexual approaches from an older person before the age of 15. This demonstrates that the problem is widespread.

"Children and young people are currently facing risks in digital environments that are not fully matched by adequate protection and preventive measures,” says Sofie Kindahl, an investigator at the agency."

The same violence in new forms

The report shows that violence in digital environments is, for the most part, not a new type of violence, but a continuation of already known forms of violence, such as men’s violence against women, violence in close relationships and the sexual exploitation of children.

At the same time, technological developments are creating new forms of abuse, for example through GPS surveillance, AI-generated material and so-called deepfakes.

"Technology does not change why violence occurs, but it changes how it can be perpetrated and disseminated," says Sofie Kindahl.

Digital platforms and technological tools make it possible to perpetrate violence anonymously, remotely and around the clock.

The design of platforms affects the risks

Platform features, such as the ability to reach many users and disseminate content rapidly, affect how violence can be perpetrated and spread.

When sexual approaches, harassment and the dissemination of offensive material can be directed at many people simultaneously and continue to spread over time, the conditions under which violence occurs change.

"It is not just about individual acts, but about how digital platforms are designed and the risks they entail," says Sofie Kindahl.

Need for stronger efforts and cooperation 

The report shows that efforts to address the digital dimensions of violence in Sweden are extensive but unevenly developed. Measures focus largely on children and young people, while significant gaps in knowledge remain.

To strengthen these efforts, we highlight, among other things, the need for:

• greater knowledge about violence in digital environments
• improved support and protection for people exposed to violence
• stronger application of the law
• clearer responsibility for platforms

"There is a need for more coordinated and long-term efforts in which multiple stakeholders contribute. Those of us working to combat violence also need to harness the possibilites offered by technology to prevent and detect violence and provide support," says Sofie Kindahl.

Legislation and supervision are important

At EU level, the Digital Services Act (DSA) has been introduced to clarify the responsibilities of platforms. The legislation imposes requirements relating to, among other things, risk assessments, transparency and protective measures.

At the same time, our report points to the need for effective supervision to ensure that these requirements are complied with in practice.

"Legislation is an important part of the picture, but how it is applied and followed up is crucial, says Sofie Kindahl, continuing:

"The current legal proceedings in the US show that the issue of accountability is still evolving." 

National strategy highlights digital risks

The Government has recently adopted a new national strategy for the period 2026–2035 to prevent and combat men's violence against women, violence in close relationships, honour-related violence and oppression, and exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking.

Among other things, the strategy emphasises the need to strengthen the protection of children and young people, including in digital environments. It also highlights the importance of long-term, coordinated and knowledge-based efforts.

"The strategy is in line with the needs identified in our report, particularly when it comes to strenghtening protection in digital environments and developing preventative efforts," says Sofie Kindahl.