Last week, our partner Bettina Knoetzl, in her capacity as Vice President of the Vienna Bar Association, took a firm stance against online hate speech against women. Here is a translation of her post:

The debate surrounding this pervasive issue reveals alarming figures: nearly 70% of gender-based hate crimes are directed against girls and women. Those affected experience digital violence in many forms: from insults and targeted humiliation to rape and death threats. The perpetrators are predominantly male (59% male, 21% female, and 21% mixed). While the Austrian National Action Plan to Combat Violence Against Women 2025–2029 provides an important framework, significant gaps persist in practice. For example, the recently introduced provision on unsolicited explicit images (“Dick-pic” paragraph) has been criticised as insufficient. Victims do not feel encouraged to report offences, allowing perpetrators to continue without facing meaningful consequences. Effective protection against violence requires precise legislation, adequate resources, and trained personnel. Criminal liability that remains without consequences offers no protection for those affected. Strengthening sexual criminal law in the digital sphere, introducing mandatory training for judges and prosecutors on digital sexual violence, and allocating additional personnel resources could improve the efficiency of criminal prosecution. Nevertheless, legal protection already exists, as damage claims can also provide an effective way to hold perpetrators accountable and compensate for harm suffered. They can be brought even if the threshold for criminal liability has not yet been met, for example in cases of intentional immoral conduct. If you or your children become victims of online hate, you are not alone: your Vienna-based lawyers are committed to ensuring that victims obtain justice, both in practice and through supporting initiatives to improve the legal framework.

KNOETZL is fully committed to fostering diversity and a culture where unethical behaviour has no room. If you are an ambitious lawyer eager to do meaningful, high-impact work in dispute resolution, we invite you to reach out. You’ll join a team that handles landmark cases, champions the causes that matter, and is invested in your growth as a practitioner.