Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, following the recent award of a contract awarded by the Government for violence against women and girls research with a particular reference to online violence against women and girls, whether this research will also include online violence against men and boys.

The government is concerned about online safety for all users, including men and boys. This particular research has a focus on online safety for women and girls to understand the drivers of the abuse they can receive online.

It aims to develop an understanding of how design features of online platforms and services can either increase or decrease the risk of online violence against women and girls. Our research will contribute to the UK’s commitments under the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse.