A new report has found a surge in technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in Pakistan in 2023 with 2,500 cases reported in the year, media reports said.

The country reportedly witnessed a significant rise in such complaints by women and marginalised groups.

The year saw another alarming trend, i.e. the use of generative AI content for violence against women in the public sphere near the general elections, reported Dawn News.

Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) released the annual cyber harassment helpline report 2023.

The seventh annual report by the foundation showed a total of 2,473 complaints on its helpline with an average number of 206 each month, reported Dawn News.

The report is a compilation of the data from complaints received by the DRF helpline through its toll-free number (0800-39393), email and social media platforms.

In a press release, DRF Executive Director Nighat Dad noted that a significant rise of complaints relating to the TFGBV against women and marginalised groups was reported during 2023, reported Dawn News.

She said the instances of violence were also leading to a rise in the potential offline violence for these groups.

 She said the helpline noted another alarming thing that the use of generative AI content was being used to exacerbate violence against women in the public sphere near the general elections, particularly against women journalists.

“These growing numbers are alarming and show how online spaces are perpetuating identity-based attacks on women and marginalised groups," she said.