Digital Harassment Forces Pakistani Women Out of Careers
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is rising in Pakistan, impacting careers, mental health, and personal safety for women across society.
Shukria Ismail, from Kurram, pursued journalism despite family hesitation, following strict cultural norms. Her career was cut short when a relative created fake profiles with explicit content, targeting her and her family.
Obscene messages and false rumours spread to relatives and acquaintances, aiming to damage her reputation and push her toward self-harm. Her family supported her, but she was forced to quit journalism entirely.
Shukria is one of thousands facing TFGBV, where technology amplifies gendered abuse. The UN’s 16 Days of Activism highlights cyber harassment, deepfakes, and attacks with offline consequences for women.
The Digital Rights Foundation recorded 3,171 new cases of online harassment in 2024. Women journalists faced deepfakes, disinformation, and false blasphemy allegations, risking both career and safety.
Pakistan’s internet gender gap worsens the problem: 33% of women regularly use the internet, and 23% access it through someone else’s phone, leaving many vulnerable to abuse.
Journalists, public figures, and politicians are frequent targets. Pakistan fell to 152nd in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting heightened risks for women facing sexualised threats and AI-generated harassment.
Conviction rates are low, with only 92 cybercrime convictions in 2023. Deepfakes, doctored images, and AI-driven impersonation make redress difficult and harassment widespread.
Mona Alam, a journalist, endured a viral pornographic video campaign. Despite filing cases with the FIA, the investigation stalled, and the harassment spread internationally, highlighting systemic failures in law enforcement.
Women politicians are also targeted. Punjab Minister Azma Bokhari faced a deepfake video in 2024. Even senior officials often fail to take action, showing how digital violence affects all women in public roles.
Non-public figures suffer too. Karachi marketing professional Maria lost her engagement after a former partner doctored personal photos, illustrating the real-world consequences of online abuse.
Psychologists note severe mental health impacts. Victims experience anxiety, hypervigilance, shame, withdrawal, and erosion of self-confidence due to constant online threats and harassment.
AI accelerates abuse, making harassment faster, personalised, and harder to trace. Experts warn deepfakes are now weaponised in intimate relationships and political spaces to control or discredit women.
Digital rights activists highlight gaps in legislation and enforcement. Victims often struggle with limited resources, untrained officers, and slow judicial processes, leaving perpetrators unpunished.
Social norms exacerbate the problem, as misogyny and gender inequality are deeply rooted in society. Online platforms amplify these biases, enabling anonymous attacks with little accountability.
Experts call for systemic change: stronger digital safeguards, gender-sensitive reporting mechanisms, public awareness, and societal shifts to protect women in digital spaces.
Shukria’s story remains a stark example. Nearly two years after being forced out of journalism, she dreams of reviving her career once she can regain autonomy and safety in her personal life.
