Facebook and WhatsApp, which enjoy the largest numbers in terms of active users at over 3 billion and 2.78 billion users globally, have been the top sites for Technology Facilitated-Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV)
Meta-owned social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp as well as Elon Musk-owned X have been flagged as the top platforms where Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is perpetrated online. This, captured in a report recently released by the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) comes at a time social media has been flagged as an enabler of femicide in the country.
Both Facebook and WhatsApp, which enjoy the largest numbers in terms of active users at over 3 billion and 2.78 billion users globally, have been the top sites for Technology Facilitated-Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV), sharing the range of 30 per cent of incidents reported.
“Facebook emerged first at 36.11 per cent, followed by WhatsApp at 30.56 per cent. Twitter came third at 8.33 per cent,” the report reads in part.
The three were followed by TikTok at 5.56 per cent while Instagram, LinkedIn, online dating websites/apps, personal email accounts, online discussion sites such as Reddit and another type of mobile app were indicated by 1.39 per cent of respondents each.
Other social media platforms such as Flickr, Snapchat, Threads, comments section of a website and online gaming sites were not mentioned by any of the participants as platforms on which TF-GBV had occurred.
Thousands protest against increasing violence against women in Kenya on January 27, 2024. /AP
The most common forms of TF-GBV reported were unsolicited intimate images (29 per cent), hate speech (25 per cent), and cyberbullying (21 per cent). The findings, according to AMWIK, reflect a growing concern about the safety of women, particularly those in public life, as online harassment continues to escalate.
The report further notes that nearly 60 per cent of the respondents reported that the perpetrators were strangers or individuals whose true identities were unknown. “This highlights how easy it is for perpetrators to hide behind anonymity online, creating unsafe environments,” adds the report.
In addition to the common forms of abuse, the report found that 20 per cent of the incidents involved co-workers, indicating that even professional environments are not immune to online harassment.
A particularly concerning finding was that nearly 60 per cent of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) had experienced online violence, both on and offline, often due to prejudice and societal ignorance.
Coping strategies varied, with 35 per cent of respondents opting to restrict who could view their content online. However, only 4.4 per cent sought legal recourse, reflecting a reluctance to pursue justice due to lengthy legal processes and unclear evidence requirements.
Among those surveyed, 38 per cent considered TF-GBV a crime, but 40 per cent thought it was wrong but not criminal. “The lack of specific laws addressing TF-GBV adds to the confusion, the report notes.
How Was It Done?
The study, which surveyed 96 respondents, primarily women (81 per cent), explored the prevalence and impact of online violence targeted at women with public influence, such as those in politics and media.
According to the report, the highest number of responses came from the 24-35 age group, followed by the 35-44 group then the 18-24 age group. The 45-54 and the 55-64 age groups provided the fewest responses. It however notes that there were no responses from respondents aged 65 and above.
The report also called for various measures to combat TF-GBV, including building capacity for digital safety, creating stronger legal protections and improving platform-level content moderation, further emphasizing the need for better reporting systems, privacy features and mental health support, particularly for vulnerable groups like journalists and human rights defenders.
As the digital landscape evolves, the report urged policy, legal and industry-level changes to protect individuals, particularly marginalised groups, from online abuse that can have devastating offline consequences.
However, the report highlights that Kenya does not have a specific law addressing TF-GBV. Existing legislation contains provisions that can be used collectively to build cases against online violence and harassment.
Key laws cited in the report include the Sexual Offences Act of 2006, the Employment Act of 2007, the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2011, and the Victim Protection Act of 2014. Others are the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act of 2015, the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, the Data Protection Act of 2019, the Sexual Gender-Based Violence Act of 2021, and the Children Act of 2022.
The report also advises that individuals can report violations involving personal information to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) for redress, providing an alternative remedy outside the court process. This underscores the need for a clear and comprehensive legal framework to address the unique challenges posed by TF-GBV.
In 2024, Kenyans were recorded as the highest social media users globally, spending an average of 3 hours and 43 minutes daily. During his address at a press briefing at State House, President William Ruto attributed social media to the increasing femicide cases stating that “Social media has become a dangerous avenue for exploitation and I urge our young people to treat strangers on these platforms with utmost caution.”
President William Ruto speaking during a press briefing at State House alongside women leaders on November 20, 2024. /PCS