What is revenge porn?
This is the term given to someone sharing personal sexual images or videos of an individual without permission.
Why do people create revenge porn?
There are many motivations; sometimes as the name suggests it is a personal vendetta, often perpetrated by an aggrieved ex-partner. Sometimes the relationship between victim and perpetrator is not a personal one, for example neighbourhood disputes and even workplace bullying can involve RP. Generally the common theme is to cause embarrassment and shame to the person in the images.
How much of a problem is revenge porn in the UK?
Since launching the Revenge Porn Helpline in February 2015 we have received over 4000 contacts to the service. We still feel that this is the tip of the iceberg and there are many more victims out there …
What should someone do if they are a victim of revenge porn?
Firstly, talk to someone you trust. It is incredibly upsetting to find that you have been a victim of this and you will need support. Then come to an organisation like the Revenge Porn Helpline for help! It is helpful to keep evidence, if you have screenshots of any threats or accounts for example. You may wish to involve the police and they may require this information.
Are there main sites that host revenge porn?
There are dedicated sites that host this content, many encouraging the behaviour with financial reward and they make it very easy to upload content. We choose not to name them so we don’t accidently draw further attention to them! Sadly though, revenge porn content can be shared anywhere …
Can’t websites that host revenge porn be shut down?
Unfortunately not, the website hosts are not breaking the law, only the people who upload the content are committing a crime. Many also fall outside the jurisdiction of the UK and can claim their right to ‘freedom of speech.’
What if the website hosting the images is based abroad?
It may make it challenging to request that content is removed, however we wouldn’t let this stand in the way. UK court orders may not apply though, so victims are somewhat at the mercy of the websites themselves.
Do only images that are shared online count as revenge porn?
No, images can be shared via mobile, printed off as hard copies or purely shown to someone to fall foul of the law.
What if someone just shows a private sexual photo to someone else – is that illegal?
See above!
If you retweet or share a private sexual image of someone else, are you guilty of revenge porn?
Technically you could be, however there has yet been a case involving this. We would advise that if you see any content you believe shouldn’t be there, you should report it.
Are images which are photoshopped to look sexual illegal?
They are not included in the Revenge Porn Legislation, but could still be prosecuted under Malicious Communications or Harassment. The harm caused by these images can be just as serious as with genuine images; sometimes they are very realistic and unless the person viewing them was aware they were fake they could easily assume they are genuine.
What kind of people are most at risk of revenge porn?
Anyone can be at risk. The media portrayal is often of a twentysomething woman who sends selfies to a boyfriend, who then shares them on the internet to humiliate her if the couple break up. The reality is that we have supported victims of every age, many in their forties or fifties. Around a quarter of our clients are men, and many come from professional backgrounds: teachers, police officers, civil servants …
What are the implications if the victim is under the age of eighteen?
We try not to confuse RP with images of minors. It is illegal to produce, download or distribute images of those under the age of eighteen. Anyone who shares them is breaking the law and websites are legally required to remove them when they are reported.
What do you think of people who take naked photos of themselves?
Any adult has the right to take pictures of themselves. We live in a technological world now, where devices and the online environment are part of our everyday. It is natural to assume they are also now part of our romantic or sexual lives. Many women find it empowering to have a few ‘feel good’ pictures of themselves, and if they are naked or partially dressed, why not? Sadly there are a minority of cases where there has been a level or coercion or the images are taken without consent. These need to managed very sensitively. And of course, no-one ever has the right to share that image with anyone else; if they have been trusted by someone with this personal image, it was meant for them alone.
How many people do the Revenge Porn Helpline help?
We have taken thousands of calls and emails since we launched in February 2015. Sometimes the caller is another support worker, for example a domestic abuse worker or a police officer, but on the whole the calls come from victims. We hope that through our awareness work, and liaison with services to help them understand the issue, we are reaching many more people who many never have contacted the helpline directly.
How many people work for the Revenge Porn Helpline? Who funds the helpline?
There are three of us who manage cases, but we don’t all work full time. We are a really small charity but we do have a broad team of specialists we can call on which includes a couple of seconded police officers, social workers and online safety experts. We are currently funded by the Government Equality Office, but we are in desperate need of continued funding post-2017. In addition there are so many areas of work we would like to grow but are not yet funded to do so; this includes providing a limited course of counselling to help our clients manage the emotional fallout until they get back on their feet.
How did you become involved in tackling revenge porn?
I have been working in online safety for five years, and over that time we have seen an increase in issues affecting women and girls. We realised that RP was a growing concern and started investigating the issue. As soon as we started talking about it publicly and in the media, the flood gates opened! We were able to make a case for a service that would provide bespoke help for clients and were lucky enough to pitch to a government representative who really understood the issue. She helped us get the start-up funding we needed for the pilot project and the rest is history!
What legal or social changes would you like to see to help fight revenge porn?
Sex and relationship education in schools is essential. It needs to start much younger and should include conversations about respect and consent. Generally I think we have reached a depressing point in human evolution, where we feel this type of behaviour is acceptable, and I would like to see more work done to challenge disrespectful language, misogyny and harassment, both online and off. Legally I would like the police to have better training and more support in managing these cases.
Can you ever get over being a victim of revenge porn?
Most people are able to move on once the content is removed. The dust does settle. Sadly though for a minority of people, even after counselling and police involvement, they cannot get over what has happened to them. We have heard from several clients that they have been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder after being a victim. That is why it’s so important for us to be there for the people that need us.
About the Revenge Porn Helpline
The Revenge Porn Helpine can be reached at help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk or via 0845 6000 459. The website also contains some useful advice and can be found at www.revengepornhelpline.org.uk. The helpline is open between 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Laura Higgins is the Online Safety Operations Manager at South West Grid for Learning, lead partner of the UK Safer Internet Centre, where she established and currently manages two specialist helpline services. The Professionals Online Safety Helpline has established itself as a lifeline for professionals who work with children and young people experiencing issues with digital technology and online safety. In February 2015, SWGfL launched a brand new service specifically to support victims of revenge porn, the only service of its kind in Europe. The helpline has received thousands of calls in its first year of operation & provides regular guidance to policy makers, government departments, media and law enforcement.
Laura has significant experience in public speaking on all matters relating to internet safety, revenge porn and the online abuse of women & girls, and was honoured to speak at the ‘Commission on the Status of Women’ event at the United Nations in New York in 2015. Her background is in operational management across different sectors of social care. She was a Committee Member for BBC Children In Need and has a very unhealthy interest in Social Media. You can follow her at @laurahiggins_