CDT Europe’s work on combatting tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is rooted in our work on protecting free expression and in tackling online harms that disproportionately impact minoritised groups.
Tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a continuation of gender-based violence and can take many forms, including non-consensual image/video sharing, stalking, data privacy breaches for the purposes of intimidation and more. Efforts to address TFGBV have typically centred on platform due diligence and content moderation practices, yet in recent years, multiple legal frameworks have emerged establishing criminal standards for certain forms of TFGBV.
Actions & Objectives
The Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) workstream works to:
Advocate for nuanced, proportionate, rights-based, and gender-sensitive approaches to addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence through legislation and platform due diligence measures.
Ensure that efforts to combat TFGBV protect and reinforce other fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of association.
Policy Priorities
Our current policy priorities include:
Supporting the effective implementation of the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention and the EU Directive on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, specifically the provisions on ‘cyber violence’.
Engaging in the Digital Services Act systemic risk assessment and mitigation processes relating to technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Promoting a stronger evidence base and expanded research agenda on technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
CDT Europe officially joined the Forum for Gender Equality in Europe (FORGE), an alliance aimed at creating a space for committed civil society organisations to exchange, brainstorm and use collective power to advance gender equality and women’s rights in Europe and beyond. Our first joint policy paper focuses on key barriers to women’s representation and participation in public life in Europe, and proposes targeted, actionable recommendations to address them. CDT Europe brings the tech-policy expertise to this coalition and informs the groups’ strategy in this area.
Silenced by Design: Gendered Disinformation and its Threat to Democracy
Our latest paper on gendered disinformation and the EU’s response to this growing democratic challenge is part of our TFGBV series. It explores how existing legislation can be leveraged to tackle gendered disinformation, where the current framework falls short, and what policymakers should do next.
“A Union of Equality” – An Analysis of the European Commission’s New Strategies in the Digital Age
CDT Europe analysed the new EU Equality strategies for 2026 to 2030 in light of their objectives to address gender-based cyber-violence as well as online hatred against racial and ethnically minoritised persons and the LGBTIQ+ community.
Joint Policy Paper: Fighting against tech-facilitated gender-based violence faced by women in Europe’s public life
CDT Europe, as part of the Forum for Gender Equality in Europe (FORGE), contributed to the first policy paper of the coalition, setting out recommendations to complement and support the implementation of the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030, which identifies women’s participation in political life, economic decision-making, and public debate as essential for strengthening democratic legitimacy and inclusive governance in the European Union.
From Risk Mitigation to App Bans: Assessing EU Legislation’s Potential to Combat AI-generated Image Abuse
Following the Grok scandal in late December 2025, CDT Europe assessed the potential of key EU legislation (i.e., DSA and AI Act) in combating the proliferation of "nudifying" tools and AI-generated image abuse, which mostly targets women and minors.
