For historically marginalised communities, digital violence is commonplace. From hate speech, to the use of ‘stalkerware’ (software that enables spying on another person), image-based sexualized violence (such as the non-consensual recording and sharing of intimate images), doxing (revealing personal information), or technology facilitated coercive control – digital violence can take many forms, public and private, and has far-reaching impacts on the physical and psychological health and well-being of those affected by it. Emerging technologies such as generative AI are set to further exacerbate the situation, bringing new tactics to the fore. Digital violence is not a glitch in the system, but deeply rooted in the same patriarchal, racist, ableist structures that govern our societies offline. It targets those already made vulnerable by systemic inequality: women, trans and non-binary people, BIPOC persons, disabled people, and those with experiences of displacement.
While technology is often still treated as a separate entity from the lived realities in our “analogue” world, we must acknowledge that the digital and non-digital spheres are deeply intertwined. In cases of intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence, technology is being used to perpetrate and amplify the different forms of violence people face. “Digital” violence is, in fact, part of a continuum of physical, psychological, and emotional violence, and represents yet another form of exercising power and control.
But while violence is widespread, so too is resistance. To imagine digital futures free from violence, we need approaches rooted in care, justice, and collective expertise of diverse kinds, built across movements. With this project, we aim to surface key tensions and differences between these diverse movements in such a way that allows for constructive discussions and finding convergences between the movements, in order to support and strengthen an intersectional and proactive approach to dealing with digital violence.
Project lead: Hannah Lichtenthäler
What we've done so far:
Digital Futures Gathering: Thriving digital futures for all
In early October 2025, we held our second Digital Futures Gathering together with over 55 participants from all over Europe. Read the recap of the 2-day gathering in this blogpost.
(DE) Stellungnahme von SUPERRR Lab zum Eckpunktepapier für ein Gesetz gegen digitale Gewalt (Mai 2023)
Unsere Stellungnahme zum Eckpunktepapier für ein Gesetz gegen digitale Gewalt auf der Website der Kriminalpolitischen Zeitschrift.
(DE) Warum ist ein Gesetz gegen digitale Gewalt notwendig? (Juni 2023)
"Die beste Strategie gegen digitale Gewalt ist Betroffenenschutz". Ein Blogpost auf unserer Website https://feministtechpolicy.org zu Gesetzen gegen digitale Gewalt.
(DE) Digitale Gesellschaft – Netzpolitischer Abend, Sept. 2023
Unser Input beim 129. Netzpolitischen Abend rund ums Thema "Digitale Gewalt".