Weak digital safeguards expose South Sudanese women to online violence

JUBA — As South Sudan’s digital space expands unevenly, women are increasingly exposed to online violence in an environment where access to technology has outpaced the development of safeguards. Social media platforms have become central to political debate, community mobilization, and information-sharing, yet weak regulation and limited digital governance have left women vulnerable to harassment, reputational attacks, and coordinated digital abuse with real-world consequences.

The South Sudanese Women Intellectuals Forum (SSW) says the rise in online violence reflects deeper structural gaps in the country’s digital ecosystem. While mobile phones and social platforms now function as public forums, the absence of protective digital public infrastructure has allowed harmful practices to spread unchecked, particularly against women who participate in civic life or challenge dominant narratives.

“Instead, we are witnessing a troubling misuse of technology that threatens the dignity and safety of women. In recent months, there has been a surge in the creation and circulation of AI-generated images and manipulated videos of South Sudanese women. These fabricated visuals are designed to mislead, shame, and harm women, often without their knowledge or consent,” they said in a statement this week.

Digital Public Infrastructure goes beyond internet access or mobile connectivity. It includes legal frameworks, institutions, and technical systems that ensure digital spaces are safe, accountable, and inclusive. In South Sudan, these foundations remain largely undeveloped, creating a digital environment where harm can occur without consequence.

The country lacks comprehensive data protection laws, enforceable standards on online harassment, or independent digital oversight bodies. Reporting harmful content often yields no response, and victims are left without legal or institutional support. This gap has enabled the normalization of online abuse, particularly against women.

Social media companies operate in South Sudan with minimal local oversight. Content moderation is inconsistent, community standards are poorly enforced, and appeals processes are often inaccessible to users with limited digital literacy. Harmful content can circulate widely before any action is taken, if it is addressed at all.

For women, this lack of accountability has translated into a hostile online environment where harassment is routine and perpetrators face little risk. The forum warns that without clear rules and enforcement mechanisms, digital platforms are reinforcing existing inequalities rather than offering new opportunities for participation.

Manipulated content and emerging threats

SSW has expressed particular concern about the growing use of manipulated images and videos targeting South Sudanese women. While access to advanced artificial intelligence tools remains limited, basic editing applications are increasingly used to fabricate content that appears authentic to untrained audiences.

In a context where digital literacy is low and verification practices are weak, such content spreads rapidly. False images and videos are often accepted as fact, amplifying their impact and deepening the stigma faced by victims, particularly in conservative communities.

The consequences of digital abuse in South Sudan extend beyond the screen. Women targeted by fabricated content often face social ostracism, threats, or loss of employment opportunities. In some cases, digital attacks escalate into offline intimidation or violence.

SSW noted that reputational harm carries disproportionate consequences for women, whose social standing is closely tied to perceptions of morality and respectability. Once damaged, reputations are difficult to restore, regardless of the truth.

Women in South Sudan already face structural barriers to participation in public life, including insecurity, economic marginalization, and cultural restrictions. Digital abuse compounds these challenges by creating additional risks for women who speak publicly or engage in political debates online.

Journalists, activists, and professionals report limiting their online presence or withdrawing entirely from digital platforms to avoid harassment. This withdrawal reduces women’s visibility and influence at a time when digital spaces increasingly shape public discourse.

“This is not the future we envisioned as women who contributed to the liberation of South Sudan and who have endured the hardships of conflict. We expected technology to support our progress, not to be weaponized against us,” they added.

The forum warned that digital violence functions as a silencing tool. Coordinated harassment campaigns discourage women from expressing dissenting views, challenging authority, or advocating for rights. Over time, this erodes pluralism and weakens democratic engagement.

“It must not be used to spread propaganda, fuel conflict, or promote divisions that can destabilize our communities. The spread of false images and harmful narratives only deepens mistrust and undermines the values we strive to uphold as a nation. SSW calls on all citizens, especially the youth, to use social media responsibly.”

In South Sudan’s fragile political environment, where traditional civic spaces are limited, the exclusion of women from digital platforms undermines inclusive governance and reinforces existing power imbalances.

In the absence of strong institutions, social media has become a primary arena for political communication and community dialogue in South Sudan. Platforms serve as substitutes for town halls, newspapers, and public meetings, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.

Yet without safeguards, these digital public spaces have become sites of contestation where misinformation, ethnic rhetoric, and gender-based abuse intersect. SSW stressed that online violence cannot be separated from broader social and political dynamics.

Intersection with conflict and division

Digital abuse targeting women often intersects with ethnic and political tensions. False images and narratives are used to discredit individuals and inflame communal divisions, increasing the risk of offline conflict in a country still recovering from years of war.

The forum warned that unchecked digital violence can undermine social cohesion and exacerbate mistrust, particularly when harmful content spreads rapidly across messaging groups without verification.

For women facing digital abuse, options for redress are limited. Law enforcement agencies rarely prioritize online harassment cases, and courts lack clear legal frameworks to address digital harm. Victims are often advised to ignore abuse or leave platforms altogether.

Platform reporting mechanisms offer little relief, and language barriers further complicate access to support. This absence of remedy reinforces a culture of impunity, where perpetrators face no meaningful consequences for their actions.

Without institutional support, the burden of responding to digital abuse falls on victims themselves. Women are often forced to publicly defend their reputations, exposing them to further harassment and scrutiny.

SSW noted that this dynamic discourages reporting and normalizes abuse, creating a digital environment where harm is tolerated and silence becomes a survival strategy.

DPI as a protective framework

The forum emphasized that addressing digital violence does not require censorship or surveillance. Instead, it calls for rights-based digital public infrastructure that protects privacy, dignity, and participation while upholding freedom of expression.

Effective DPI would include clear legal protections, accessible reporting systems, digital literacy initiatives, and cooperation with technology companies to enforce standards transparently and consistently.

Low levels of digital literacy also remain a significant challenge in South Sudan. Many users lack the skills to verify information or recognize manipulated content, making them vulnerable to misinformation and exploitation.

SSW urged investment in digital education programs that empower users to navigate online spaces safely and responsibly. Improving digital literacy is essential to reducing the spread and impact of harmful content.

Young people make up the majority of South Sudan’s online population and play a critical role in shaping digital culture. The forum called on youth to reject participation in harassment and to promote responsible use of social media.

Communities, religious leaders, and educators were also urged to challenge digital abuse and support victims, recognizing that online harm often reflects broader societal attitudes.

As South Sudan explores digital solutions for service delivery, identity systems, and public finance, SSW warned that failing to address digital violence risks embedding inequality into future systems.

Expanding digital access without safeguards may amplify harm rather than promote inclusion. Women, already marginalized in many sectors, would be disproportionately affected by such failures.

The forum called on authorities to treat digital safety as a core development issue rather than an afterthought. Building safe digital spaces is essential to fostering trust, participation, and accountability.

International partners supporting digital development were urged to integrate gender-sensitive safeguards into programs and to support local institutions working to protect digital rights.

SSW stressed that protecting women online is not solely the responsibility of the state or technology companies. Citizens, civil society organizations, and community leaders all have roles to play in shaping digital norms.

“Protecting the dignity of women is a collective responsibility, and every individual has a role to play in creating a safer online environment. We urge the public to stand firmly against digital violence and to help build an online culture rooted in respect, truth, and unity.”

As South Sudan navigates its digital future, the choices made now will shape who benefits from technological change and who is left behind. Without safeguards, digital spaces risk reproducing existing inequalities and creating new forms of harm.

SSW concluded that building a safer digital environment is essential to building a stable, inclusive, and accountable South Sudan, where technology supports progress rather than undermines it.