Women in media call for stronger protection against online abuse

In the recent past, women journalists and creators in Kenya have increasingly become a target for tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) from doxxing to trolling campaigns that end up leaving lasting emotional scars.

A 2024 study by Nendo & Dada Disinfo found that 58% of women creators had faced harassment, with cyberstalking, impersonation, and hate speech among the most common attacks.

At a closed-door roundtable in Nairobi, hosted by TikTok and the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC), participants shared raw experiences of harassment, illustrating how gendered abuse is shaping women’s participation in digital spaces.

Among the respondents was Kenya Editors’ Guild President, Zubeida Kananu, who recalled how during the recent Gen Z protests, her personal contacts were circulated online under the guise of “kusalimia.” What appeared harmless to some was, in reality, a targeted campaign of intimidation.

“Empowering women to participate fully and safely in media is not merely a digital challenge, it is a democratic imperative,” Kananu said.

Other journalists and creators echoed similar concerns, highlighting how online trolling and coordinated hate campaigns limit women’s ability to freely engage in digital spaces.

The roundtable also spotlighted the role of algorithms in amplifying harmful content and the emotional toll this has on women. Civil society representatives urged for stronger redress mechanisms and better education on digital safety.

“Addressing tech-facilitated gender-based violence requires more than just policies; it demands deep listening, data-driven insights, and collaboration across sectors,” said Kim Thipe, Executive Director of CABC.

For TikTok, the roundtable was part of a broader series across Sub-Saharan Africa aimed at drawing direct feedback from women most affected by online abuse.

The company says it wants to hear first-hand experiences to shape its safety tools, policies, and enforcement.

“At TikTok, safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Duduzile Mkhize, Outreach & Partnerships Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Creating safe spaces online isn’t just about technology, it’s about humanity.”

While participants welcomed TikTok’s engagement, many noted that the challenge goes beyond one platform.

They called for stronger laws addressing emerging threats like deepfakes, coordinated doxxing, and gender-based harassment campaigns that spill from online to offline.