As Niamh tells GLAMOUR, “The issue with tech-facilitated violence is that the tech part is constantly developing, and the laws aren’t even trying to keep up.
“The system is entirely broken; from the first report to the police of a threat to share, all the way up to access to compensation, victims of image-based abuse are being let down at every step of the way.”
Rebecca Hitchen, Head of Policy & Campaigns at EVAW notes, “Women and girls are facing an epidemic of image-based abuse, from sexually explicit deepfakes to intimate images taken or shared without consent.
“We want accountability and support for victims and survivors of image-based abuse, which looks beyond criminal offences alone, and for billion-dollar tech companies to use the tools they have to stop this abuse before it starts. That’s why we’re calling on the next government to introduce a new Image-Based Abuse law that is holistic, survivor-centred and has prevention at its core.”
Both the Conservatives and Labour have pledged to take image-based abuse seriously if elected.
In their 2024 party manifesto, the Conservatives have pledged to “create new offences for spiking, the creation of sexualised deepfake images and taking intimate images without consent.”
Meanwhile, the Labour Party manifesto pledges to “ensure the safe development and use of AI models by introducing binding regulation on the handful of companies developing the most powerful AI models and by banning the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes.”
These promises barely scratch the surface of the realities and threat of image-based abuse.
That’s why GLAMOUR has teamed up with the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Not Your Porn, and Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University, to demand that the next government introduces a dedicated Image-Based Abuse law.
As Jodie tells GLAMOUR, “Having an image-based abuse law would allow anyone to access support no matter what your background, no matter your education, no matter if you’ve got support […] You shouldn’t have to fight for justice. I know that that’s a common saying, but it’s not fair for victims to have to fight for justice. Justice is deserved and there should be no grey areas around this kind of abuse.”
“Women, who are disproportionately affected by this type of crime, deserve ownership of their images, and should have the right to use social media platforms without fear that those closest to them can abuse their images in whichever way they choose.
“Politicians and lawmakers should be working with victims and survivors of these crimes to ensure they meet the needs of those who are most affected by them.”
Ellesha agrees, describing it as a “big step in the right direction”, adding that… “it would mean that image-based abuse gets treated more seriously and not washed and watered down so much by the terminology in the laws at the moment.”
“Survivors are having to take on billion-dollar tech platforms all on their own, without the law on their side.”
Professor Clare McGlynn, campaign partner and a world-leading expert on image-based abuse, tells GLAMOUR: “Women are being systematically failed by the legal system. The criminal law is full of holes, and women’s experiences are not taken seriously by the police. It is also extremely difficult to get material deleted or taken down from the internet, even after a criminal conviction.”
“For too long, survivors of image-based abuse have been ignored, their experiences trivialised and dismissed. Women’s rights to privacy and free speech are being systematically breached, with society as a whole suffering. Women deserve a holistic, comprehensive response to these devastating and life-shattering harms.”