Technology has opened up significant opportunities to drive the development of all aspects of social life. However, alongside the undeniable benefits of increased connectivity, access to information, and learning opportunities, social media also harbours many risks, with women and girls being the most affected.
The primary reason is that women belong to a vulnerable group that often faces disadvantages due to inherent gender characteristics, especially those in remote areas, economically disadvantaged regions, border areas, and islands. When accessing digital technology, many women lack familiarity and knowledge about protecting their personal data online, combined with a lack of caution, making them easy targets for scammers.
Moreover, women’s social media habits differ from men’s. Research shows that while most people use social media to find information, women have a higher need for sharing and emotional expression (over 60% of women compared to around 50% of men). Women are also more engaged in activities like buying and selling online. Unfortunately, many women tend to be trusting, making them susceptible to false advertising and malicious content on social media. This naivety, combined with sophisticated criminal tactics, often makes women easy prey.
Additionally, women, especially those facing hardships or from minority communities, often seek employment through acquaintances or social media job postings. This has created a loophole for criminals to post fake ads disguised as job opportunities, labour export offers, or marriage proposals to obtain foreign nationality, covering up illegal activities like human trafficking and forced marriages.
Many women also seek jobs that allow them to care for their families while earning an income, making them susceptible to “easy online job” scams. Despite improvements in policies and laws to ensure women’s rights in the digital environment, efforts are still insufficient to prevent, detect, and counter these sophisticated crimes. Online harassment and violence against women often go underreported and are inadequately addressed, allowing these crimes to thrive.
Countries, including Vietnam, have witnessed a rise in online harassment and sexual violence targeting women. A 2020 report by Plan International surveyed over 14,000 girls and young women in 31 countries, revealing that 58% had experienced online harassment, and 85% faced various forms of gender-based violence. Data from the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in 2023 indicated that nearly 30% of women reported negative impacts on their mental health after facing online gender-based violence. This highlights that no matter where these crimes occur, they cause severe physical and psychological harm to women, negatively affecting all aspects of their lives.
Women play a crucial role in the workforce, contributing significantly to societal progress. Their rights are now widely recognised worldwide and embedded in laws. In Vietnam, women’s rights are enshrined in the Constitution and several laws, such as the Gender Equality Law, Civil Code, Social Insurance Law, Labour Code, Marriage and Family Law, Penal Code, and Domestic Violence Prevention Law. Notably, the Information Access Law (2016) and the Cybersecurity Law (2018) have provisions to protect women online.
Many countries are implementing stricter policies to tackle violations of women’s rights in the digital realm. These include tightening legal regulations for internet use, enforcing strict penalties for online violations, and enhancing security for social media platforms. For example, Australia’s “Online Safety Act 2021” has mechanisms to protect all citizens, including women, from online violence by enabling platforms to handle complaints and remove harmful content. Similarly, China’s Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests (2022) aims to protect women from discrimination, harassment, trafficking, and other abuses.
Organisations like UN Women also support governments and women’s organisations in creating national action plans to secure women’s rights. Gaelle Demolis, a specialist with the UN Women’s Asia-Pacific regional office, emphasised the urgent need to protect vulnerable groups, especially women and girls, from emerging security challenges like cybercrime, online harassment, and violence. She stressed the importance of enhancing women’s involvement in prevention and response efforts.
In Vietnam, despite notable achievements, there’s still a need for more comprehensive and decisive measures to ensure women’s safety online. Legal reforms are a vital strategy to better safeguard women’s rights and human rights overall. Clear, specific regulations are needed to address violations against women’s rights, creating a solid legal framework for protecting them in the digital space. Penalties for offenders should be more severe, including criminal liability for serious violations.
Government agencies should increase awareness efforts on cybersecurity and online safety for women, actively detect and address online violations, and take firm action against those exploiting the internet for criminal activities. Most importantly, women should be aware of their rights and take personal responsibility for protecting themselves from violations. Staying vigilant against new scams, learning preventive skills, and understanding the risks of online platforms are essential to reducing their vulnerability to digital threats.
