Rights group warns of growing sexual harassment targeting Chinese activists abroad

New York

A new Human Rights Watch report has raised alarm over a rise in sexual harassment targeting Chinese activists living in exile, calling it a worrying form of cross border repression.

The report says Chinese authorities have long tried to silence critics overseas, but recent cases show a disturbing use of sexually explicit material to intimidate and shame dissidents and their families.

Hong Kong activists Carmen Lau and Ted Hui, now living abroad, face arrest warrants under the National Security Law. Last week, they revealed that unknown persons circulated sexually explicit deepfake images of them and their relatives in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Police in both countries have not identified those responsible. However, a Chinese government spokesperson defended the pursuit of “wanted fugitives” as reasonable, the report noted.

Human Rights Watch pointed to earlier evidence from 2024 showing direct Chinese government involvement in similar harassment. Online accounts spread sexual threats against the teenage daughter of US based critic Deng Yuwen, later traced to Chinese security agencies.

The report said such tactics have increased in recent years. A 2022 study by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute also warned of growing gender based online attacks against critics of Beijing.

While not all harassment can be directly linked to the Chinese state, HRW said arrest warrants, bounties, and hostile official rhetoric signal that exiled activists are enemies, making them targets.

HRW urged governments to act against transnational repression. It called for public condemnation, proper investigations, and reporting systems for diaspora communities.

The group also asked governments to offer digital security and mental health support to victims, ensuring exiled activists feel safe and protected in their new countries.