I work on a revenge porn helpline – we need to do more to protect women from harm

As sharing explicit images becomes more common between romantic partners, Sophie Mortimer explains why we need greater protections for people when that trust is violated

Sadly, based on current trends and with technology evolving at a rapid rate, we can only expect more opportunities to arise for perpetrators to abuse (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The online landscape is constantly evolving. From one generation to the next, the baton of what is deemed appropriate is passed on, and standards of behaviour are constantly changing.

Ever since I began working for the Revenge Porn Helpline, initially as a helpline practitioner and now as the helpline manager, coordinating a team to support those affected by these devastating crimes, I have witnessed first-hand how technological advancements are continuing to fuel a rise in intimate image abuse.

First, it is clear to me that the rules of romantic engagement as we knew them have changed. Alongside the increasing popularity of sexting, people have simply become much more comfortable exchanging nude images of themselves, regardless of age or gender. And as long as you’re an adult, it’s consensual and it’s legal, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

While now a seemingly normal ritual between people meeting online, at the Revenge Porn Helpline, I’ve seen the experiences of those who have been affected by how these images can be abused. This was the case with Aaliyah, a 22-year-old woman who reached out to the Revenge Porn Helpline after discovering, through a friend, that intimate images of herself had been shared onto an adult website by an ex-partner a year after their breakup.

Over the course of their online relationship, Aaliyah had shared intimate and non-intimate images with her partner, showing the trust she had in him. Feeling anxious after the revelation that her intimate images had been shared online, Aaliyah searched her name followed by the term “nude”, which led to her discovering her intimate images were openly available on the internet.

Our helpline initiated the process of reporting and removing Aaliyah’s images, and to date, the Revenge Porn Helpline has successfully removed 3,110 intimate images and videos from various adult platforms of Aaliyah.

In 2023, the Revenge Porn Helpline received almost 19,000 reports – a 106 per cent increase from the previous year. According to research, 25 per cent of people globally have shared nude or explicit images of themselves with someone they are dating or chatting with. The figure rises to 39 per cent among 25-34-year-olds.

I don’t think this is a problem that is going away any time soon. Sadly, based on current trends and with technology evolving at a rapid rate, we can only expect more opportunities to arise for perpetrators to abuse.

I can list numerous high-profile examples of celebrities who have experienced intimate image abuse, such as reality star Georgia Harrison, who took her ex-boyfriend to court for creating and then posting intimate footage of her without her consent on his OnlyFans page. Similarly, DJ and music producer Diplo recently made the news when he was sued by an anonymous Jane Doe for allegedly sending intimate videos of her to third parties without her consent.

Despite the completely understandable normalisation of sharing intimate images, naturally enough there remains a strong desire for privacy. However, once an image is shared, it can be very difficult to control its distribution.

In addition to confusion over consent and ownership, there is also a lack of understanding about legal levels of protection available. While there are laws in place to combat intimate image abuse, such as England’s legislation against sharing an intimate photograph or film, the current regulation alone is not enough to ensure an individual’s complete safety.

At the Revenge Porn Helpline, we still have a problem that we are trying to resolve: currently 10 per cent of reported content by the helpline remains online and is legally allowed to be viewed, even if a perpetrator has been convicted.

This means that we have 30,000 URLs containing non-consensually shared content that we cannot remove due to the current legal framework and non-compliant websites. This issue could be resolved if internet service providers were empowered to block access to content we cannot remove.

With Georgia Harrison’s support, we’ve campaigned tirelessly to garner support from MPs, NGOs, and organisations to close this legal loophole and reinforce tougher protections for individuals affected by intimate image abuse. The need for this legislative change is more important than ever, because there is no justification for allowing this behaviour to continue. Non-consensually shared intimate imagery should be made illegal, and we urge the new government to rectify this problem.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen there can sometimes be a lack of sympathy for people who shared images willingly, but who have since fallen victim to intimate image abuse.

Young adults, who might have a more laid-back view on the world, need the support and guidance to be made aware of the potential risks of sharing intimate images in the digital age whilst using features like blocking and reporting tools to help restrict the sharing of sensitive content. New preventative technologies such as StopNCII.org go a long way to giving people peace of mind.

While the internet and smartphones have transformed our lives in many positive ways, delivering great benefits to individuals and society, caution is necessary. As we embrace new and quickly evolving technologies, we need accompanying education, awareness and support to balance the harms that can come alongside them.

I am incredibly proud of the work my team and I have done since our inception in 2015 and our efforts have been crucial in supporting those affected by intimate image abuse. During my time at the helpline, I’ve seen how times and fashions do change, and each generation faces its own unique challenges.

The internet and smartphones are powerful tools that, when used responsibly, can enhance our lives. However, I believe it’s essential to approach these technologies with understanding and an awareness of how we can appropriately protect ourselves.

If you have been affected by intimate image abuse and are an adult over the age of 18 living in the UK, you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline on 0345 6000 459 or email help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk