Online Harassment: A New Weapon in Times of War
Thanaa Abdeen
Since the outbreak of the war on April 15, the digital space has witnessed a dangerous surge in misleading media narratives. These narratives have not only fueled political and military conflict but have also targeted specific individuals and groups, aiming to tarnish their reputations and reinforce harmful stereotypes. This alarming phenomenon, which exacerbates societal divisions and deepens the crisis, was thoroughly examined in a research paper by media expert Faisal Mohamed Saleh. The paper was presented during a workshop titled "Misinformation and Gender-Based Hate Speech" organized by Siyaha Network with the participation of female journalists and activists.
Faisal Mohamed Saleh argued that gender-based misinformation leverages societal norms and gender biases to undermine credibility or inflict harm on targeted individuals or groups. His paper highlighted real-life examples where media outlets and social media platforms disseminated distorted and fabricated narratives about prominent female activists and politicians, portraying them as aggressive or emotionally unstable.
The issue goes beyond misinformation; it extends to online harassment. Women—particularly activists and leaders—have become prime targets of coordinated campaigns that use accusations of sexual misconduct as a tool for character assassination. The paper revealed that these campaigns are often orchestrated through fake accounts and social media platforms, employing offensive hashtags to silence womens voices and exclude them from public discourse.
Despite these challenges, women have played a pivotal role in countering such attacks. They have organized digital awareness campaigns, documented violations, and exposed the negative impact of these actions on womens rights. These efforts have also worked to raise awareness about the dangers of misinformation on societal stability.
The paper proposed several practical strategies to combat misinformation and online harassment, including:
Digital Diplomacy: Strengthening collaboration with international organizations and technology companies to address misleading content.
Support for Independent Media: Providing technical and financial assistance to independent media campaigns and initiatives that promote factual reporting and professional journalism.
Government Collaboration: Encouraging governments to seek assistance from specialized organizations to address these phenomena.
Such issues pose a serious threat to social peace while underscoring the urgent need for responsible and sustainable media that upholds human values and individual rights. As the war continues on the ground, the battle against misinformation and online harassment remains an equally crucial front.
