“For too long the government’s approach to tackling image-based abuse has been piecemeal and ineffective. This crisis demands more.”
Jodie has an important message for anyone who wants to support the campaign: “Together, we can end image-based abuse. Please help me by signing and sharing this petition.”
In 2023, GLAMOUR launched a groundbreaking consent survey, in partnership with Refuge and Rape Crisis, which asked over 3000 women about their attitudes towards sexual consent. Of all the findings – which you can read in full here – we were horrified to learn that 91% of GLAMOUR readers think deepfake technology poses a threat to the safety of women.
Earlier this year, we took our findings to parliament, hosting a roundtable in partnership with Greg Clark, then the Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells and Chair of the Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee, to explore what politicians and tech companies can do to stop deepfake abuse.
Barely a month later, we had our first campaign win. The government announced proposals to criminalise the creation of deepfake pornography. Sadly, in the wake of the general election, this promise never came to fruition.
In June 2024, GLAMOUR officially launched our campaign, in partnership with EVAW, Not Your Porn, and Professor Clare McGlynn, to introduce a comprehensive Image-Based Abuse Law.
Rebecca Hitchen, Head of Policy & Campaigns at the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), says, “Image-based abuse is deeply harmful and a growing threat to women and girls. By signing this petition, you are telling the government to take urgent action to protect survivors and prevent other women and girls from being targeted.
The technology that is enabling perpetrators to create, share and widely disseminate abusive images is constantly evolving at a rapid pace, which is why tackling the issue needs to be underpinned by a comprehensive law that holds both perpetrators and tech platforms accountable and provides specialist support and individual redress for survivors, alongside working towards a better future through prevention.”
Professor Clare McGlynn says, “Current laws on image-based abuse are complicated and confusing, with huge gaps, leaving survivors with few options to take back control of their lives and secure some sense of justice. We need a comprehensive image-based abuse law that recognises the nature and extent of this abuse and sets out an ambition to eradicate it.
There have been recent improvements in the law, but they are not comprehensive, with many survivors falling between the gaps in the law. The delays in acting are no longer acceptable.”
Elena Michael, Director of Not Your Porn, says, “The time to act is now. A comprehensive system to tackle image-based abuse is long overdue. The Online Safety Act doesn’t go far enough, although it is a starting piece in the jigsaw puzzle. Survivors can’t be expected to do all the work to protect themselves even though this is essentially what they are having to do because of the gaps in the law.
The five ‘asks’ in this campaign are shaped by the needs and experiences of survivors – this is what they need as an absolute minimum, and we will keep calling for it until the government listens.”
*Names and some details have been changed to protect victims and survivors’ identities and safety.
Revenge Porn Helpline provides advice, guidance and support to victims of intimate image-based abuse over the age of 18 who live in the UK. You can call them on 0345 6000 459.
The Cyber Helpline provides free, expert help and advice to people targeted by online crime and harm in the UK and USA.
For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.