One third of women and girls in Austria have experienced online violence, with nearly two thirds of 15 to 18-year-olds affected, according to a women’s support organisation.

A survey of 322 women identified sexual harassment as the most common form, with 70% of respondents reporting incidents, said Helena Essl from the Women’s Service Graz. She noted that those affected were severely limited in their everyday lives.

The support available is insufficient, partly due to a lack of awareness, but also because of limited technical knowledge on many fronts.

A study by the European Institute for Gender Equality revealed that 70% of women harassed online had also experienced physical or sexual violence. Of particular concern is the growing use of stalking software, said Sophie Hansal, Managing Director of the network.

More than half of the participants in the Graz survey reported suffering psychological effects from online harassment. Most perpetrators were either unknown or anonymous, while a third were former partners.

Almost half of the women surveyed felt they were not adequately informed about staying safe online. The most common request was for dedicated advice centres offering technical support for those facing online violence.

Those affected often lack familiarity with key functions on their devices – such as security settings, secure passwords, and GPS tracking – and tend to leave the technical management to their partners, explained Katharina Pertschy from the Women’s Service Graz.

Despite legal improvements, the prosecution of cases is still “in its infancy,” and too many charges are dropped, said Jenny-Kerstin Bauer, deputy head of the Network of Austrian Women’s and Girls’ Counselling Centres. Both victims and perpetrators often view the internet as a lawless space, which increases the likelihood of violence.