PUBLISHED
December 21, 2025
Pakistan is experiencing a dramatic rise in digital violence, a shift that mirrors the country’s increasing dependence on technology for communication, education, work, and social connection. As more women and girls navigate digital spaces, they are encountering new and complex threats that were unimaginable a decade ago. What once began as scattered incidents of online harassment has now evolved into a broad spectrum of digital harms that affect victims psychologically, socially, financially, and even physically.
According to data provided by Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), the nature of online abuse in Pakistan has become both more widespread and more technologically sophisticated, leaving victims to deal not only with the immediate danger but also the long-lasting trauma that accompanies these violations.
Data recorded in the month of October 2025 reveals an alarming range of complaints. Some 14 cases of blackmailing, 25 of defamation, 74 of financial fraud and scams, six relating to GenAI or deepfake abuse, 69 involving hacking, 68 concerning non-consensual image use, 51 linked to social engineering, 46 involving threats, and 18 cases of unsolicited contact.
In addition to these specific complaints, the types of cases reported show 253 instances of cyber harassment, a single case of workplace harassment, another of physical harassment, 21 general inquiries, tive other digital issues, and two domestic issues.
Together, these figures paint a clear picture about the digital danger for women. Online violence in Pakistan is no longer limited to crude messages or unwanted interactions. It is deeply entwined with financial exploitation, emotional manipulation, AI-enabled fabrications, unauthorised invasions of privacy, and persistent intimidation. Women who experience these harms often describe the aftermath as a state of emotional upheaval, sleeplessness, fear of judgment, and a profound loss of trust in others. They suffer a trauma that can linger long after a device is turned off or an account is recovered.
Who seeks help? Insights from callers across Pakistan
A deeper understanding of the environment also emerges when examining the types of callers reaching out for help. The new dataset shows a diverse range of individuals seeking assistance. Three activists, one lawyer, eight journalists, three people from the trans community, and 16 minors all fell prey. This distribution is revealing in several ways. The presence of activists suggests that those involved in advocacy work continue to face high levels of digital risk, often becoming targets because of their visibility and public engagement. Journalists, who make up a significant portion of callers, reflect another vulnerable group whose work requires constant online presence and whose reporting frequently provokes backlash, trolling, or coordinated intimidation. Their calls for help expose how digital abuse is weaponised to intimidate journalists, to supress free expression, and crush dissenting voices.
The inclusion of the trans community within the caller data shows how marginalised groups are uniquely affected by digital violence. Members of the trans community often face hostility both offline and online, and digital platforms can become yet another arena where discrimination and targeted abuse thrive. Many describe being subjected to identity-based harassment or threats that exploit their social vulnerability, compounding the psychological harm they already endure in daily life. The fact that minors form the largest segment of callers highlights an urgent public concern. Young people are online earlier than ever before, yet they often lack the digital awareness and understanding to manage hidden online risks.
Many minors who reach out report feeling overwhelmed, confused, or frightened, unsure how to interpret the behaviour they encounter online. This early exposure to digital harassment or manipulation can shape their long-term mental health, relationships, and self-worth. The trauma experienced by minors can be particularly deep, as they may not yet have the emotional tools or support networks to cope with such violations.
The human cost of trauma
The most striking element within the data remains the dominance of cyber harassment as a case category. With 253 cases reported, cyber harassment overshadows every other category combined, showing how deeply rooted the problem has become. Online spaces, once celebrated for their potential to empower women are increasingly becoming battlegrounds where gender-based hostility is expressed with alarming ease. Many women report that harassment begins the moment they create public profiles, share opinions, or even post innocuous updates. For some, the harassment escalates gradually; for others, it arrives suddenly and brutally, overwhelming them with hateful messages, threats, or fabricated allegations. The psychological impact of such sustained hostility is profound. Victims often describe feeling trapped in an environment where abuse follows them from room to room, through every notification and every login, leaving them emotionally exhausted and constantly on-edge.
Alongside cyber harassment, financial fraud and scams are emerging as a critical form of harm. With 74 complaints, this category is the most frequently reported type of digital violation. Fraudsters often target women who run small online businesses, freelance digitally, or use mobile banking services. Scams may come in the form of fake job opportunities, fraudulent online stores, identity theft, or deceitful investment schemes. For many victims, the financial loss is only part of the damage. The betrayal, embarrassment, and fear that follow such experiences can leave deep emotional wounds. Women frequently report feeling ashamed or reluctant to seek help, believing they should have been more cautious—a damaging misconception that overlooks the sophisticated, deceptive tactics used by perpetrators.
Hacking is another widespread threat, with 69 reports indicating that unauthorised access to personal accounts or devices remains a persistent danger. Hacking is not always a faceless crime committed by anonymous strangers. In many cases, the perpetrator is someone the victim knows. The person could be a friend, former partner, colleague, or acquaintance who exploits trust or shared access. The violation of having private messages, photos, or documents exposed or manipulated can be deeply destabilising. Victims often describe feeling violated in ways that resemble physical intrusion, as though their personal boundaries have been broken through their screens. Even after securing their accounts, the lingering fear that someone may still be watching or listening creates ongoing psychological distress.
Closely tied to hacking is the issue of non-consensual image use, which appears 68 times in the complaints. This form of digital abuse is one of the most traumatic. Whether images are obtained through privacy breaches, manipulated, or originally shared within a relationship, their misuse can have devastating social and emotional consequences. In conservative societies like Pakistan, the threat of intimate images being leaked can trap victims in cycles of fear, silence, and coercion. Some perpetrators use the threat of exposure to control or extort victims. Many victims express that the mere possibility of someone sharing their private images—real or fabricated—causes overwhelming anxiety, shame, and withdrawal from social interactions. This form of abuse often leads to isolation, as victims fear being judged or disbelieved.
Social engineering, with 51 complaints, reveals how psychological manipulation is becoming increasingly common. Rather than using technical skills, perpetrators deceive victims by pretending to be trusted sources such as banks, institutions, friends, employers, or even family members. This manipulation often results in victims giving away passwords, financial information, or sensitive details. Those who fall victim often describe a heavy emotional aftermath including guilt for trusting the wrong person, anxiety about further exploitation, and fear that they may never be able to trust digital interactions again. The trauma is beyond digital and deeply personal.
Threats, reported 46 times, reflect another form of emotional violence that can occur entirely online yet have severe real-world consequences. Threatening messages, whether explicit or implied, can cause intense fear and limit women’s freedom of movement, expression, and participation in public life. Women often alter their routines, withdraw from public engagement, or change phone numbers and accounts repeatedly in hopes of escaping their harassers. Many describe the experience as living in a state of constant alarm, unsure whether a digital threat may spill into the physical world. The psychological toll includes nightmares, heightened fear, and a sense of vulnerability that can last for months or even years.
Unsolicited contact, with 18 reports, may seem minor compared to more severe categories, but it is often the entry point into escalating abuse. Persistent unwanted messaging, repeated friend requests, or obsessive attempts to communicate create a sense of being monitored or pursued. For many women, this intrusion triggers anxiety and a reluctance to engage with digital platforms. Even when the contact is merely bothersome rather than overtly threatening, the feeling of being constantly interrupted or watched can wear down a victim’s sense of autonomy.
Blackmail, though reported 14 times, represents one of the most psychologically devastating forms of digital violence. Perpetrators often use compromising data—real or fabricated—to exert control, demand money, or coerce victims into unwanted actions. The fear of reputation damage or family reaction can push victims into severe distress, often delaying or preventing them from seeking help. The trauma associated with blackmail includes panic attacks, sleeplessness, and a deep sense of despair, especially when victims feel trapped with no safe way to escape the situation.
The emergence of GenAI and deepfake abuse, though reported only six times, signals a worrying future. Deepfake technology can fabricate highly realistic false images or videos of victims, often placing them in compromising or sexualised scenarios without their knowledge or consent. The emotional devastation caused by such fabrications is immense. Victims describe a profound sense of helplessness, as the technology is so advanced that distinguishing truth from manipulation becomes challenging. Even if the content is proven false, the fear of social repercussions and digital permanence leaves victims with lasting emotional scars.
Turning to the broader categories of cases reported, the presence of a single instance of workplace harassment and one of physical harassment highlights the interconnected nature of offline and online abuse. Digital tools are increasingly used to extend or intensify offline violence, whether through stalking, monitoring, or continued intimidation beyond the boundaries of physical spaces. The two domestic issue cases emphasise how technology can be weaponized within intimate relationships, further blurring the lines between personal and digital safety.
General inquiries, numbering 21, show that many women seek guidance and clarity about their digital experiences, unsure whether certain interactions qualify as abuse. This reflects a pressing need for widespread digital literacy, awareness campaigns, and accessible support channels. Women must understand not only how to recognize digital violence but also how to protect themselves, document incidents, and seek appropriate help without fear or shame.
The five “other digital issues” reported indicate that new forms of abuse continue to evolve, sometimes faster than categories can be defined. Technology changes rapidly, and with it, so do the methods used to target, manipulate, or harm women. This constant evolution reinforces the need for flexible, forward-looking digital safety strategies that can adapt to emerging threats.
The data from Pakistan demonstrates a clear and urgent truth that digital violence is now one of the most significant threats facing women and girls in the country. It affects their mental health, their social lives, their financial stability, and their long-term well-being. Victims frequently describe their experiences not just as moments of harm but as ongoing battles with trauma—heavy emotional burdens that alter their sense of security and self.
Where the calls come from
The geographical distribution of cases tells that digital violence is not confined to major cities or tech-heavy regions but stretches across the entire country. The data reveals that calls for help come from places as varied as Lahore with 101 cases, Karachi with 19, Rawalpindi with 18, Faisalabad (12), Islamabad (9), and Multan (19). Smaller cities and towns also appear in the numbers: one case each from Abbottabad, DI Khan, Sukkur and Gilgit, two cases each from Hyderabad and Peshawar, and four cases in Quetta. Gujranwala adds another four cases, showing that mid-sized urban centres are no exception.
Most striking of all is the category marked “City without NCCIA office,” which accounts for 77 cases shows that survivors in many regions lack institutional access and still manage to reach out for support despite limited resources. Another four cases fall under “No info,” pointing to callers who, for reasons of fear, urgency, or privacy, do not disclose their location at all.
This spread across provinces and city sizes shows that digital violence is not an isolated urban problem. Whether in Pakistan’s largest cities or its remote districts, women and girls are confronting the same online threats. The country’s digital landscape is expanding quickly, but the protections available to users vary dramatically depending on where they live. Many survivors in smaller towns face additional challenges: fewer digital safety resources, less awareness of reporting mechanisms, and greater social pressures that discourage speaking up.
What emerges is a picture of nationwide vulnerability. The map highlights how deeply digital abuse has penetrated Pakistan’s social fabric, revealing both the scale of the issue and the urgency of creating accessible support systems that reach far beyond major cities.
Taking steps beyond symbolism
As Pakistan moves through another year of campaigns and awareness drives, there is a growing realisation that the United Nation’s “16 Days of Activism” should never be treated as a seasonal slogan or a decorative fashion event. Its purpose is far deeper than orange scarves, hashtags, or symbolic posts. The core of this global campaign is a call to actions that demand consistent work, structural reform, and long-term accountability.
Digital platforms are frequently used as a new medium for existing societal patterns of harassment. “It is obviously a historical shift where different forms of abuse are finally being recognised as ‘violence,’” said Farhat Parveen, executive director of National Organisation for Working Communities.
Even women working for human rights—specifically on cases of domestic violence or harassment – face organised digital campaigns intended to silence them. This includes constant phone harassment and trolling across platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
Parveen highlighted the systemic challenges that persist: while victims can report incidents to cyber crime units, the existing infrastructure is weak and insufficient. She also emphasised that digital violence will continue until there is a robust system of accountability.
Pakistan cannot afford to treat digital violence as a once-a-year talking point. The data shows that women, journalists, activists, trans individuals, and even minors are reaching out for help because the digital world around them is becoming increasingly unsafe. Their trauma is not temporary; it lingers long after campaigns end and social media timelines move on. The fear, shame, anxiety, sleepless nights, social isolation they endure is not eased by a slogan but by real protections and real change.
For the campaign to mean something in Pakistan, the country must invest in stronger reporting systems, greater digital literacy, widespread community support, and a social culture that refuses to blame victims. Schools must empower students with real tools to protect themselves online; families need to become safe havens that listen and support, not judge; law enforcement should be trained to combine technical skills with compassion; and society must rise together to challenge the harmful norms that let digital abuse flourish in the shadows. Change won’t happen through slogans—it will happen when every level of society takes responsibility and refuses to stay silent.
The true spirit of the 16 days lies not in how loudly Pakistan talks about violence during this period, but in how committed it remains once the campaign ends. Progress will come from everyday efforts by listening to survivors, believing them, supporting them, and building systems that protect them before harm escalates.
If Pakistan chooses sustained action over seasonal symbolism, it can transform its digital spaces into environments where women and girls can speak, create, and live without fear. This campaign should translate into real policies and action, not just hashtags or photo-ops so that every woman and girl can be protected, heard, and empowered.
