Image-based abuse: no meaningful changes in government announcement

The government has today (13^th September 2024) stated that new changes to the Online Safety Act will make image-based abuse a priority offence and force tech firms to clamp down on it.

However, image-based abuse is already a priority offence under the law. The changes being announced are of an administrative nature and do not contain any substantive measures that would strengthen the law or provide any meaningful impact on survivors.

Along with survivor campaign group #NotYourPorn, leading expert Professor Clare McGlynn and GLAMOUR magazine, the End Violence Against Women Coalition is calling for the government to introduce an image-based abuse law that would:

• Strengthen criminal laws about creating, taking and sharing intimate images without consent (including sexually explicit deepfakes)
• Improve civil laws for survivors to take action against perpetrators and tech companies (including orders to take down abusive content)
• Prevent image-based abuse through comprehensive relationships, sex and health education that reflects the realities of young people’s lives
• Fund the specialist services that provide vital, life-saving support to victims and survivors of image-based abuse
• Create an online abuse commission to champion victims’ rights and hold tech companies accountable for image-based abuse

We are also disappointed to see image-based abuse continually referred to as ‘revenge porn’. This term should be avoided as the use of ‘revenge’ wrongly implies the victim did something to deserve their abuse, and it is not accurate or appropriate to describe sexual abuse as ‘porn’ given the lack of consent.

Rebecca Hitchen, Head of Policy & Campaigns at the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said:

“While we welcome this focus on tackling intimate image abuse, given victims currently have so few routes to justice and support, this announcement is similar to a systems software update – necessary, administrative, but with no tangible changes as a result.

However, it is reassuring to see government publicly ramp up pressure on the tech companies that facilitate and profit from abuse, but it remains to be seen as to whether these hugely powerful companies will really have their feet held to the fire, or instead shrug off the minimal attempts to constrain them. 

We know this government can be more ambitious, and will have to be if it wants to stay true to its commitment to halve violence against women and girls. As yet though, we aren’t seeing anything to get excited about. We’ll be watching this space, ready and waiting to celebrate any government initiatives that will meaningfully improve the lives of women and girls.”

ENDS

Media contact

Sinead Geoghegan, Head of Communications, media@evaw.org.uk 07960 744 502