Digital and online aspects of violence, are rarely captured, despite the well-understood rise in the uses of, and reliance upon, online technology in everyday life (including both private and professional life). As such, there exist gaps in the current knowledge and understanding of the extent of digital and online violence, and its effects– including, albeit not limited to the type of harms suffered by those subjected to it. It is increasingly recognised that particular groups are specifically targeted by digital and online violence, which is further amplified by intersectional characteristics.
Furthermore, there have been a number of very recent and contentious proposals for law reform addressing the challenges posed by violence in online environments. A number of countries tentatively embarked upon discussion on how to address the multifaceted challenges arising from the emergence of digital and online violence. These proposals are not limited to a single issue or a region: there are discussions about reforming the law in these areas in the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and across the European Union.
Despite these efforts, significant challenges continue to be posed for law reform, law enforcement, understandings of online and digital violence as well as its legal regulation. From discussions of e-safety to digital safety to online harms to network enforcement, a plethora of approaches have been mooted, some contentious, and all posing (mostly) unanswered questions.
This Special Issue aims to bring together international authors commenting on trends in and approaches towards digital and online violence. In particular, it is designed to provide a space for explorations of:
- Conceptions of digital and online violence
- Emerging forms of digital and online violence
- Regional approaches to tackling digital and online violence
- Intersectional experiences of digital and online violence
- Online gender-based hate speech
- Online harassment
