This article references image-based sexual abuse.
The UK government has announced what it claims is a significant step toward improving online safety for women and girls by reclassifying the sharing of intimate images without consent, or Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA), as a “priority offence” under the Online Safety Act. The move, the government says, is meant to force social media platforms to proactively prevent and remove such material from their platforms or face fines. When I read the announcement this morning a wave of cynicism came over me, but rightfully so- when has any government actually taken male violence against women as seriously as it should? They certainly didn’t when I was arrested at the Sarah Everard vigil, Boris Johnsons said he ‘saw some argy bargy’ about the footage of me and others being thrown about by police. This is a different government, however, but most issues relating to women and girls are at the least only used as a political game by most parties and not actually dealt with.
My cynicism was right, the announcement is misleading to say the least. The offence of sharing intimate images without consent is already classified as a priority offence under existing legislation. The change the government is making is merely an administrative adjustment—one that does nothing to enhance protections for women and girls. In reality, this announcement is little more than a public relations stunt, aimed at improving the government’s image without delivering any real progress in the fight against online abuse.
The results of GLAMOUR's Consent Survey are in.
What the government fails to mention in its press release is that this is just an administrative change, this latest announcement simply moves the offence into the Online Safety Act’s list of priority offences—a procedural step that most offences go through as part of the legal process. By presenting this reclassification as a significant advancement, the government is exaggerating the impact of what is essentially an administrative update. This isn’t a new law or a strengthening of the existing one—it’s simply moving an already-established offence into a different category, which does not improve the protections already in place.
The government’s attempt to present this as a major step forward is not just misleading but disingenuous. While the announcement might sound promising to the general public, who may not be familiar with the existing legal framework, those who are paying attention know that this does nothing to actually tackle the problem of IBSA. The press release itself was infuriating to read, with them still referring to IBSA as the less respectful ‘revenge porn’ but from what I’m seeing on social media it seems they may have enlisted some women to promote this ‘announcement’ too.
This is not a bold new measure to crack down on online abuse; it’s a standard administrative procedure being spun as an achievement. It feels like a cynical move designed to create the illusion that the government is taking action on the issue of online sexual abuse, rather than offering anything that will actually help victims.
For survivors of IBSA, this empty announcement is a slap in the face. Many survivors, including myself, have experienced firsthand how difficult it is to get justice for these types of offences. Despite the existing laws, the criminal justice system often fails to take these cases seriously. The process is confusing, support services are lacking, and police often don’t take survivors seriously.
In response to this announcement, many survivors have voiced their frustrations, with some even writing an open letter to the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT). The consensus is clear: this announcement is not an improvement. It does nothing to address the systemic failures in the handling of image-based sexual abuse. It offers no additional protections, no better support services, and no new tools for survivors to pursue justice. This isn’t a meaningful change—it’s lip service.
If the government truly cared about tackling IBSA and making the internet a safer place for women and girls, it would go beyond announcing meaningless administrative changes and address the core issues that allow these abuses to continue.
First, there needs to be significant investment in survivor support. Legal aid, counselling services, and survivor advocacy are all woefully underfunded.
Second, the government should focus on prevention. Educational campaigns about consent, respect, and the consequences of IBSA should be rolled out across schools and online platforms. Media literacy programs are crucial to raising awareness and helping individuals, particularly young people, understand the harmful effects of sharing non-consensual images.
The UK government’s announcement about reclassifying IBSA as a priority offence is awful, as someone who has experienced IBSA and seen the devastating effects it has on women, I’m saddened and angry that it’s being used as lip service. It is a routine administrative procedure being spun as a significant new measure, designed to boost public perception without delivering any real change.
Survivors of image-based sexual abuse deserve far better than this. If the government truly wants to tackle online abuse, it needs to go beyond PR stunts and take meaningful action—by providing more support for survivors, and focusing on preventing these offences in the first place.
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.
