CDU Women Push for Stronger Measures Against Digital Violence

The CDU Women's Union in North Rhine-Westphalia is calling for a more robust response to digital violence, arguing that the federal government's current legislative draft falls short.

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We want more; we want to protect the digital identity of people, especially women, overall. And in a technology-open way. Because we don't know what's coming.

"We want more; we want to protect the digital identity of people, especially women, overall," stated Simone Wendland, a CDU state parliament member. She emphasized the need for a "technology-open" approach, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of future digital threats. Wendland, a lawyer and initiator of the proposal, believes the draft law, presented by Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) in April, does not go far enough.

Wendland described digital violence as a "quiet violence" with an "infinitely large and far-reaching" impact that is difficult to contain. The Women's Union believes the government's bill overly focuses on sexualized and harmful image content. They propose that the bill be refined during parliamentary proceedings to include a separate, binding protection of digital identity.

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Digital violence is a rather quiet violence. But its impact is so infinitely large and far-reaching that it can hardly be stopped.

"We all have a common goal. We want to improve the situation," said Ina Scharrenbach, chairwoman of the Women's Union NRW and state equality minister. The group advocates for a new, independent criminal offense covering all forms of image-based, sexually defamatory violence, including deepfakes, real-time manipulations, and voice cloning. To keep pace with rapid technological advancements, this offense must also encompass future technologies, not be limited to specific methods. Wendland hopes this will deter perpetrators.

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We all have a common goal. We want to improve the situation.

Furthermore, the CDU Women's Union seeks to simplify the reporting process for victims, calling for uniform digital reporting procedures nationwide, which are currently absent in the justice ministry's draft. "When something like this happens, it must be quick, easy, and above all, digitally possible to take action against it," Wendland urged.

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When something like this happens, it must be quick, easy, and above all, digitally possible to take action against it.