Jane* discovered that intimate photos of her had been shared on a website without her permission and expected the police would help. Instead, she was told that investigating where the photos were posted could put her at risk of breaking the law. She was handed a leaflet on internet safety and advised to contact tech companies, but to expect little support. The case was closed after her accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat were hacked, along with those of several other women. The hackers extracted private messages and shared intimate images online. The experience was deeply distressing, with people leaving hurtful comments online, and one individual even used her personal details, including her name, school, and social media links, to contact her directly. Jane felt exposed, harassed, and stalked by a group of anonymous individuals, which left her feeling unsafe, angry, and violated. As a result, she has limited her online presence and no longer feels comfortable in many digital spaces. A recent report by Refuge and End Violence Against Women (EVAW) highlights that many women now see abuse, harassment, and exposure to misogynistic content as an "accepted risk" of being online. This is despite voluntary guidance introduced by Ofcom last year aimed at helping tech companies tackle violence against women and girls. Jane, frustrated by the lack of support during her reporting process, hired the law firm Leigh Day, which pushed Ofcom to launch a formal investigation into the platforms involved and the police to reopen their criminal probe. However, she says there has been little clarity or transparency about how long these processes will take. Part of the challenge in such cases is that the perpetrators may be located anywhere in the world and can hide their IP addresses, which identify their locations. Jane argues that this should not be a barrier to action, comparing it to other serious crimes like terrorism, which are not ignored. The EVAW report found that many women in similar situations did not report their experiences to online platforms or the police, and when they did, they often felt the response was inadequate. Many said their complaints were misunderstood or dismissed, and they were told to change their behavior rather than being supported. A survey of 2,000 women found that 17% of those who reported to the police had their cases ignored. Nearly half of those aged 16-24 had experienced online violence, with one in four facing misogyny or sexual abuse. One in five had been stalked or harassed, and 18% had experienced image-based abuse, such as having their intimate photos shared without consent. Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said while Ofcom’s guidance was a positive step, more needs to be done to hold tech companies accountable for normalizing misogyny and ensuring the safety of women and survivors. The report called for better training for police and prosecutors on tech-related abuse, the creation of a new online safety commission, dedicated funding for support services, and stronger enforcement powers for Ofcom. An Ofcom spokesperson said tackling online harms for women and girls is a top priority, and the regulator is working to ensure tech companies remove illegal content, including harassment and abuse, when they become aware of it. They are also cracking down on the spread of illegal intimate images and have opened investigations into three services suspected of failing to prevent such content. The spokesperson emphasized that these investigations will be handled fairly, robustly, and transparently.