Stalking, harassment, body shaming. Online abuse is becoming a near-universal experience for teenage girls in Europe, with new threats such as AI-generated deepfakes causing harm beyond the screen. EU is now pushing schools, parents and tech platforms to do more to protect them.
EU ministers called this Monday for stronger action to protect girls from digital violence, warning that online abuse can spill into real life and cause psychological, social and physical harm. More than one in ten women, 12.3 per cent, have experienced online abuse, such as threats, stalking, harassment and image-based abuse, according to the new research by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE),
For teenage girls, the picture is even more worrying. Participants told researchers that almost everyone in their peer group had experienced some form of online abuse. EIGE also found that the form of danger changes with age.
Girls aged 13 to 15 described exclusion from group chats, body shaming, gossip and public humiliation. Those aged 16 to 18 reported more sexualised and controlling forms of abuse, like coercion, deepfakes and grooming.
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Gender-responsive digital literacy
Member states now want teachers, educators and students to receive training in gender-responsive digital literacy. This would cover online safety, disinformation detection and awareness of technologies that can enable gender-based violence.
School curricula should also address gender stereotypes, harmful social norms and accountability. To tackle the roots of the problem, the Council also argues that more women should be involved in the design and development of digital technologies.
Parents, caregivers and legal guardians should receive practical guidance on how to respond to technology-facilitated abuse. Ministers also call for free parental control tools and bystander intervention training for teachers and other professionals, so they can step in safely when abuse occurs.
“Today’s conclusions mark a crucial milestone in protecting girls and young women online,” said Clea Papaellina, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare of the Republic of Cyprus. She said cyber violence against girls is “real, widespread, and rapidly evolving”. She added that protecting them in the digital age is “a shared European responsibility”.
Deepfakes are a new threat
A particular focus is placed on the non-consensual sharing of explicit images. Recently, the issue has become more urgent due to the rise of AI-generated content. The European Parliament recently approved a ban on nudifier systems under the AI Digital Omnibus, starting on 2 December 2026. These applications use artificial intelligence to remove clothing or generate nude or sexualised images of real people without their consent.
The Council also wants better enforcement of existing EU law, including the Digital Services Act and the AI Act. This is especially important for identifying online evidence and improving cross-border cooperation. Platforms and social media providers are also put under pressure to pursue safety proactively and by design, moderate content effectively and prevent the misuse of their services.
As digital abuse continues to evolve, ministers call for long-term evidence-based research into its psychological, social and economic impact. They also want more data on the root causes, motivations, and tactics behind online abuse, including sexist hate speech promoted by the manosphere and incel communities.
