Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to fuel online attacks against women journalists, dangerously amplifying threats such as deepfakes, doxxing, and gendered harassment, UNESCO has warned.

Nearly three-quarters of women journalists worldwide have faced some form of online violence, with one in four receiving physical or death threats, according to the UN’s cultural agency.

Releasing the findings ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Sunday (November 2), UNESCO said the abuse is designed to silence and discredit female reporters, with digital attacks often spilling over into the real world.

A recent study found that 14% of women journalists have suffered physical violence linked to online threats.

The crisis spans continents. In Ukraine, 81% of women journalists reported experiencing online violence, while in Zimbabwe, 63% said they had faced similar abuse. The threats frequently extend to family members and can escalate into offline harassment.

In response, UNESCO has launched a new global campaign titled “CTRL + ALT + MUTE,” which seeks to counter the growing use of AI-driven abuse through stronger policy measures and advocacy.

“As generative AI grows more powerful, so do the digital tools to silence women journalists, and therefore all women,” the agency said in a statement.

It stressed that ensuring the safety of women in media is fundamental to protecting freedom of expression for all.