“This new legislation could have shielded me from such exploitation and, more importantly, validated that my voice matters.”
Professor Clare McGlynn, a world-leading expert on image-based abuse, tells GLAMOUR, “What survivors need and want is comprehensive change.
“They need a new criminal offence of creating sexually explicit deepfakes to tackle the root of the problem. They need to be able to go to court to get judges to order perpetrators to delete material and social media companies to take it down. They need better-funded support services to help them recover. They need a regulator, such as an Online Safety Commissioner, to fight for their interests and demand change.”
Elena Michael, campaign partner and director of Not Your Porn, notes, “There are so many more urgent issues which need to be prioritised other than seeming to reiterate that non-consensual sharing is a priority offence – this has already been done under the Online Safety Act. Therefore this announcement is potentially misleading about its scope and reach. What about all the other gaps that we’ve identified in our campaign that continue to be left unaddressed and continue to harm people?
“The Online Safety Act may be a monumental piece of legislation but that doesn’t mean it is immune from suggestions for improvement – there is a lot more that needs to be done to prevent image-based abuse and also to support survivors. We can’t leave the Revenge Porn Helpline alone to deal with this, the law needs to support survivors too.”
Deborah Joseph, GLAMOUR’s European Editorial Director, notes, “While it’s encouraging to see the new Labour government taking tentative steps to toughen the response on revenge porn, this new proposal really only scrapes the surface.
“Violence against women and girls has reached epidemic levels and advances in technology exacerbating this is truly shocking. At a parliamentary roundtable GLAMOUR held earlier this year as part of our ongoing consent campaign, we heard first-hand the impact statements of survivors of image-based abuse. Their brave words hit home the stark need to make meaningful change that actively protects against this type of horrific abuse.
“We need a complete overhaul of the existing system with a dedicated, comprehensive Image-Based Abuse law and we need it now.”
However, as Rebecca Hitchen adds, “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.”
*Names and some details have been changed to protect victims and survivors’ identities and safety.
Find out more about GLAMOUR’s campaign in partnership with the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), Not Your Porn and Professor Clare McGlynn, demanding that the government introduces a dedicated, comprehensive Image-Based Abuse law to protect women and girls.
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.
For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.