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Tackling digital sexual violence in Canada requires updated policies and procedures

Mar 24, 2025

Tackling Digital Sexual Violence in Canada

Overview

  • Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV): Involves non-consensual sexual imagery, gendered harassment, cyberstalking, and misogynistic narratives on social media.
  • Prevalence: Affects one in six school-aged children in Europe, Asia, and Canada. Over 80% of Canadian undergraduates have experienced online abuse.

Authors

  • Yimin Chen: Postdoctoral Researcher, Royal Roads University
  • Chandell Gosse: Senior Research Officer, Cape Breton University
  • Jaigris Hodson: Associate Professor, Royal Roads University
  • Kaitlynn Mendes: Canada Research Chair in Inequality and Gender, Western University

Key Findings

  • Disproportionate Impact: TFSV affects women, children, racialized, queer, neuro-, and gender-diverse people more than others.
  • Engagement in TFSV: Nearly one in five Canadian adults report engaging in TFSV.

Challenges in Addressing TFSV

  • Rapid Technological Advancements: Current policies have not kept pace with rapid technological changes.
  • AI and Abuse: Use of AI for abuse, such as generating fake nudes, is increasing.
  • Under-Prepared Institutions: Many Canadian institutions lack specific approaches to TFSV.

Research Insights

  • Study on Canadian Institutions: Majority do not include TFSV in anti-violence programs.
  • Resource Limitations: Anti-violence organizations are understaffed and lack resources to update programs.
  • Perception Issues: Digital dualism - belief that online harms are less serious than offline harms.

Current and Future Directions

  • Promising Initiatives: Tech Safety Canada provides toolkits and resources to address TFSV.
  • Need for Sustained Support: Continuous adaptation to the evolving nature of TFSV is necessary.
  • Collaborative Efforts: Ongoing research and resources development by Canadian teams to tackle TFSV.

Conclusion

  • Ongoing Gaps and Opportunities: Despite challenges, there are opportunities to improve the approach to gendered violence and abuse.

Acknowledgements

  • Contributions by George Veletsianos and Esteban Morales.

Disclosure: Authors receive funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and other bodies.

View note sourcehttps://theconversation.com/tackling-digital-sexual-violence-in-canada-requires-updated-policies-and-procedures-234610?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=bylinecopy_url_button