Study Reveals Rise in Digital Sexual Blackmail During Moroccan Divorces

– bySylvanus · 2 min read
Study Reveals Rise in Digital Sexual Blackmail During Moroccan Divorces

Ex-spouses often use sexual content, including images and videos, to obtain financial settlements or custody rights from women in Morocco. This is revealed by a study conducted by a Dutch NGO.

According to a recent report by the Dutch NGO Rutgers International, violence against women is increasingly occurring online. Focused on seven countries, the study conducted by the NGO examines the effects of the pervasive influence of patriarchy and deeply entrenched gender roles in the digital universe. Gender-based violence, which includes online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and cyberbullying, is increasingly being used as a weapon against women in Morocco, the report notes, adding that artificial intelligence further complicates matters by facilitating the creation of deepfakes and perpetuating harmful stereotypes through algorithmic biases.

82% of respondents in the study identify patriarchal norms and societal gender expectations as key factors amplifying these forms of violence. The study reveals that Moroccan society, like many others, presents patterns of exclusion where women are discouraged or actively prevented from participating in online spaces, political engagement or public discourse. Rutgers International notes that the anonymity and speed of digital platforms provide perpetrators of such acts with unprecedented means to disseminate harmful content and intimidate their victims, often with impunity.

In Morocco, as in other countries studied, there remains a critical gap in understanding and addressing violence against women and girls, especially gender-based violence facilitated by technology, the NGO points out. As a result, many victims are reluctant to report incidents or file complaints due to social stigma, limited legal protections and widespread distrust in the ability of law enforcement to intervene effectively. Even when they do, they often face inadequate responses from authorities ill-equipped to handle the nuances of digital violence. Yet, this violence has lasting effects on victims, their mental health and overall well-being.