As a survivor of image-based abuse, it takes a lot to share your story with the world. I know this because I've done it. But more powerfully, I've had the privilege of listening to other survivors reflect on their experiences.
I've listened to the inimitable Jess Davies speak at Glamour's last parliamentary roundtable, where she talked about her intimate images being stolen and traded online. I've interviewed Jodie*, a fierce women's rights campaigner, about her experience of being deepfaked by her best friend. I've sat in the House of Lords with another survivor of image-based abuse, Daria*, as we watched Baroness Charlotte Owen make vital amendments – that Daria herself had flagged – to the incoming new laws on deepfake abuse.
Jess, Jodie, and Daria have been incredibly generous with their time. So have the survivors who shared their experiences with the Women and Equalities Committee to inform its report on tackling non-consensual intimate image abuse (NCII). Based on survivor and experts testimony, the report made several urgent recommendations, including making it a crime to possess non-consensual intimate images and creating a fast-track civil process to order the images to be taken down.
The government's response? To reject all of the above – and most of the report's recommendations. Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), says the government “risks leaving victims of online abuse behind.” She adds, "Its refusal to act on the very changes survivors say would make the biggest difference – like timely takedowns and justice routes that don’t take years – is at odds with its public commitments to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”
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It comes just months after Glamour and EVAW hosted a roundtable in parliament, identifying the need for a comprehensive image-based abuse law, which, at a minimum, would include the following actions:
- 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
- Prevent image-based abuse through comprehensive relationships, sex and health education
- Fund specialist services that provide support to victims and survivors of image-based abuse
- Create an Online Abuse Commission to hold tech companies accountable for image-based abuse
Indeed, over 70k people have signed our petition, calling for the government to introduce a dedicated, comprehensive Image-Based Abuse Law.
Jodie* has also condemned the government's response, noting: “This response is a devastating letdown. Survivors and campaigners have spent months, or in many cases, years, sharing painful testimony, engaging with policymakers, and putting forward clear, workable solutions. We equipped the government with everything it needed to act decisively.
“The Women and Equalities Committee laid out simple, vital steps. These are not radical asks; they are basic protections that reflect the scale and urgency of the harm and the humanity of the victims at the centre of it. By rejecting these recommendations, the government is choosing delay over action.
“Every day this abuse goes unchecked, more lives are upended. The government must do better and I urge them to reconsider next steps.”
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What has the government said?
On making it a crime to possess non-consensual intimate images…
The government has rejected this recommendation on the basis that it would be too complicated to establish whether the individual had consent (or a reasonable belief in consent) to possess the image, adding:
“It is also unclear what this would add, given existing powers that apply once an image has been unlawfully shared online. We are considering carefully how to tackle the removal of these images in the most effective way.”
On creating a fast-track civil process to order the non-consensual intimate images to be taken down…
The government has rejected this recommendation on the basis that the Online Safety Act already contains sufficient provisions for survivors seeking to take down non-consensual intimate images, saying:
“The Online Safety Act contains strong provisions for user redress designed to support individuals, including those who are victims of NCII abuse….The Government believes that the duties requiring providers of regulated services to take steps to take down NCII, combined with mandating that victims are provided with a direct user redress mechanism, is an effective way to ensure illegal NCII content is removed.”
The government has also rejected the committee's recommendation to expand the definition of intimate image-based abuse to incorporate culturally sensitive situations, such as Muslim women being pictured without wearing a hijab, which may make them targets for honour-based abuse and blackmail.
These images can be weaponised through forced marriage, honour-based violence, and even death.
Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen said, “Every victim of a sexual offence deserves to be treated with respect and have their case investigated promptly and effectively. Given the deeply personal nature of NCII, victims cannot wait months or even years for action and redress.
“I urge the government to act and bring forward the necessary legislative proposals. If it fails to do so, the Committee recommendations were clear that we will put forward our own, in the form of amendments to proposed legislation.”
Survivors of image-based abuse (and all forms of male violence) don't share our stories for the fun of it. We dredge up horrific memories, triggering ourselves over and over again, in the faint hope that people in power will listen, that they will give the slightest damn. Today, they have let us down all over again.
GLAMOUR is campaigning for the government to introduce an Image-Based Abuse Bill in partnership with Jodie Campaigns, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Not Your Porn, and Professor Clare McGlynn.
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.
For too long, I felt ashamed for daring to take an image of my body. But it was not my shame to carry.
