Digital harassment of women journalists in IndonesiaCEFR A2
15 Nov 2025
Adapted from Irma Garnesia, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Alexa Serafin, Unsplash
Digital violence against female journalists and activists in Indonesia has become more visible over the last five years. Women who work in media, human rights and fact checking report sustained harassment that mixes professional criticism with personal abuse.
Cases include doxing, edited photos and a large DDoS attack in May 2020. A 2021 PR2Media survey of 1,256 female journalists found 85.7 percent had experienced some form of violence, and 70.1 percent said it happened both online and offline. Victims say institutions and platforms give limited protection, and advocates press for faster, culturally aware moderation and better law enforcement.
Difficult words
- harassment — Unwanted, aggressive behavior towards someone.
- journalist — A person who reports news and stories.journalists
- presentation — The act of showing information to others.
- attacks — Actions intended to harm or criticize someone.
- support — Help or assistance given to someone.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is online harassment a serious issue for journalists?
- What can be done to support female journalists better?
- How do you think personal insults affect someone's work?
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