Here is tbe report: No Escape: The Weaponization of Gender for the Purposes of Digital Transnational Repression (pdf)

Exiled and diaspora women human rights defenders targeted through digital transnational repression face not only the same digital threats as men human rights defenders, but also gender-specific forms of online harassment, abuse, and intimidation, the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto says in a new report.

The focus of the research is on human rights defenders who identify as women (cis/trans), non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals. Drawing on the lived experiences of 85 women human rights defenders originating from 24 countries of origin and residing in 23 host countries, the report examines how gender and sexuality play a central role in digital transnational repression.

Key findings:

• Technologies and techniques used in digital targeting: Activists are digitally targeted using a range of tools and techniques including social media surveillance, hacking of electronic devices or social media accounts, online harassment and disin-formation, and the use of false or private information to discredit them.
• Profile of perpetrators: Perpetrators, as identified by respondents, included govern-ment actors, state-backed trolls, inauthentic accounts, regime supporters, and other diaspora members with chauvinist and misogynistic ideas.
• Gendered dimensions of online threats and attacks: Participants were exposed to gendered online attacks and threats that included sexual slurs, harassment, vulgar comments on social media platforms, messages with detailed sexual fantasies, rape threats, and attacks related to targets’ personal lives which reflected profoundly patri-archal ideas and attempted to deny women the ability to speak up on political and social issues.
• Motives and triggers of gender-based digital transnational repression: Threats typically targeted women human rights defenders who were in a position to mobilize international attention, causing authoritarian governments reputational damage and increased external scrutiny. Many research participants saw a direct connec-tion between the threats they experienced and their work on their home country government’s power abuse and human rights violations. Attacks were further directed against women who challenged state censorship and patriarchal norms in their country of origin with their online presence and expression.
• Impacts of gender-based digital transnational repression – mental health, wellbeing, and social relations: The digital attacks experienced by respondents impacted their mental health and wellbeing. Respondents described feelings of exhaustion, stress and anxiety, burnout, sleeplessness, and depression. The attacks profoundly altered women’s sense of security and their social relations. Relationships with family and partners deteriorated under the stress and uncer-tainty caused by such online harassment, attacks, and surveillance. The mistrust seeping into diaspora communities and online networks led research participants to isolate themselves and withdraw from others.
• Impacts of gender-based digital transnational repression – activism and profes-sional work: Research participants exposed to smear campaigns were anxious about the negative impacts of such targeting on their work, in particular in undermining their reputation and credibility. Many started doubting the costs of activism and whether it was worthwhile to continue. Their deteriorating mental health affected productivity and work routines. Some were forced to withdraw, at least temporarily. Other respondents, however, seemed undeterred. These research participants saw the attacks against them as a sign their work was having an effect on the regime and its affiliates. But, even when they persisted in their activism, research participants had to constantly evaluate and navigate the associated risks. Fearing spying and surveil-lance, some renounced the attendance of larger gatherings with other exiles. Instead of speaking out in public, others engaged in research and writing, behind-the-scenes organizing, or met within smaller, trusted circles.
• Managing security risks – securing practices and behavioural changes: Research participants took a number of steps to mitigate the harms of digital attacks. They adapted their online behaviour and relied on different tools and practices of digital hygiene. However, the burden of such “preventive labour” clearly lay on the shoul-ders of targeted research participants. They were constantly assessing the risks of their online environment and had to invest time and effort to seek out solutions to improve their digital security and other protective measures.
• Coping with gender-based digital transnational repression: To deal with the impact of attacks and mitigate psychological harm, research participants came up with different coping strategies. They tried to build mental resilience, took active care of their mental health and wellbeing, and sought support from family, friends, and peers. These responses carried emotional, social, and professional costs, requiring considerable effort and resources.
• Seeking support from host states: Host state authorities continue to provide insuf-ficient support to respondents. This protection gap is even larger for women targeted with gender-based threats from state actors in their countries of origin because law enforcement often lacks an understanding of the political motivation for such attacks and the necessary gender and racial sensitivity required to help victims of online abuse. As a result, many research participants doubted the benefits of reporting incidents to the police in their country of residence.
• Social media platforms and gender-based digital transnational repression: Research participants rely on large social media platforms for information sharing, advocacy, and activism. As a result, these platforms are also the primary sites of threats and attacks. Perpetrators exploited the technical affordances of platforms, manipulating crowd- and algorithm-driven news feeds for the viral distribution of harassment and defamation. The platforms’ content moderation often failed to detect and prevent online abuse, particularly outside the context of English-speaking communities. Some research respondents reported having their accounts taken over or blocked by false mass reports. They often felt left alone as platforms were unresponsive. Overall, activists experienced uncertainty and anxiety over how to safeguard accounts and their content, adding to the psycho-logical burden of digital threats.

The study also contains recommendations to address gender-based digital transnational repression.