Intimate image abuse time limits
Inadequate statutory time limits for intimate image abuse offences, particularly concerning when the time limit begins.
18 items
1 source
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Where this theme appears
Intimate image abuse time limits has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
18 committee recs
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Committee Recommendations (18)
#29 — Criminalise use of nudification apps as synthetic NCII and hold platforms accountable.
Recommendation: There is no legitimate reason whatsoever for the use or existence of nudification apps. The Government should ensure that the use of such an app is considered creation of synthetic NCII and therefore also a criminal offence and Ofcom should …
Gov response: Government response: Accept The sharing of or threatening to share a deepfake intimate image without consent or reasonable belief in consent is a criminal offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The relevant offences came …
No Published Response
#27 — Mandate consent-based offence for deepfake creation, including cultural intimate image abuse.
Recommendation: The Government’s plans to criminalise the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes/NCII, even if they are not shared, are very welcome and worthy of praise. However, the Government must ensure that the offence is consent- based and does not require the …
Gov response: Government response: Partial acceptance The Government has already acted to introduce a ‘consent-based’ offence that does not include a specific intent element that relates to the perpetrator’s motivation, fulfilling our manifesto commitment. We have tabled …
No Published Response
#18 — Introduce statutory time limit extension for intimate image abuse, starting from victim awareness.
Recommendation: The Government should introduce an extension to the statutory time limits that apply to current and forthcoming intimate image abuse offences, such that the time limit begins only once the victim(s) is/are aware of the abuse. (Recommendation, Paragraph 93)
Gov response: Partial acceptance Section 127 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 effectively imposes a six month limitation period on summary-only offences, unless that provision is displaced. This time limit does not apply to offences that are …
No Published Response
#7 — Amend the Crime and Policing Bill to make possession of non-consensual intimate images an offence.
Recommendation: The Government should bring forward an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to make possession of NCII an offence, in addition to its creation. This will put NCII on the same footing as CSAM in how it is treated …
Gov response: We currently have little evidence about the effectiveness or speed of the process in British Columbia, which this proposed statutory civil process is based on. Additionally, many of the functions of the recommended civil process …
Not Accepted
#5 — Ofcom's powers insufficient for timely removal of individual NCII abuse content
Recommendation: Ofcom’s current enforcement powers, while welcome, are far too slow and not designed to help individual victims get abusive images of themselves on non-compliant websites taken down or have access to them restricted. The duties under the regulatory regime created …
Gov response: Government response: Partial acceptance The Online Safety Act 2023 gives online platforms and search services new duties to put systems and processes in place to protect their users from illegal content, including NCII abuse. The …
No Published Response
#3 — Amend Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme eligibility to include online sexual offence claims
Recommendation: The Ministry of Justice must amend the eligibility criteria of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to bring claims from victims of sexual offences perpetrated online, specifically non-consensual intimate image abuse, within its scope. (Recommendation, Paragraph 26)
Gov response: Government response: Reject We have carefully considered potential changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme’s scope, including the views of respondents to consultations undertaken by the previous Government. Our conclusion is that we will maintain …
No Published Response
#33 — Online Safety Act contains loophole failing to legislate against non-consensual intimate imagery possession.
Recommendation: The Online Safety Act, introduced in October 2023, was designed to ensure that people are protected from harmful online content, notably children and young people. The Act legislates the removal harmful content from social media platforms.77 As of 16 March …
Gov response: 7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Winter 2025 7.2 The implementation of the Online Safety Act is a key part of the government’s strategy to tackle VAWG. The government is …
Not Addressed
#23 — Include non-consensual intimate image abuse in VAWG definition and identify prevalence data.
Recommendation: The Government should ensure that NCII abuse is included when creating a common definition of VAWG, as part of its mission to reduce it by 50% within the next decade. It should also identify what data can be used to …
Gov response: Accept Tackling VAWG that takes place online and/or is facilitated through technology, including non-consensual intimate image abuse, falls under the Government’s definition of VAWG. This will be an important part of the new cross-Government Strategy, …
No Published Response
#17 — Extend legal definition of intimate image to include religious or cultural attire removal.
Recommendation: The Government should extend the legal definition of an intimate image to include images where “because of the person’s religious or cultural background, the person commonly wears particular attire of religious or cultural significance when in public; and the material …
Gov response: Reject The Government understands that the non-consensual taking and sharing of culturally sensitive images can be distressing and life-changing for people. However, the Law Commission looked carefully at this issue and while they too acknowledged …
No Published Response
#13 — Establish an Online Safety Commission to support individuals and oversee non-consensual intimate image content registry.
Recommendation: The Government should set up an Online Safety Commission, similar to the eSafety Commission in Australia, with a focus on support for individuals. The new Commission would act as a trusted flagger of NCII content on behalf of individuals that …
Gov response: Reject The Online Safety Act contains strong provisions for user redress designed to support individuals, including those who are victims of NCII abuse. It requires all user-to-user and search services regulated by the Act to …
No Published Response
#12 — Regulatory framework lacks a statutory body to support non-consensual intimate image abuse victims.
Recommendation: There is a gap in the UK’s online regulatory framework for a statutory body to support and champion the rights of individuals affected by non- consensual intimate image abuse, and to work alongside the courts in the civil regime. Such …
Gov response: Reject The Online Safety Act contains strong provisions for user redress designed to support individuals, including those who are victims of NCII abuse. It requires all user-to-user and search services regulated by the Act to …
No Published Response
#11 — Introduce a swift, inexpensive statutory civil process for non-consensual intimate image abuse.
Recommendation: The Government should take a holistic approach to legislating against NCII abuse by introducing a swift, inexpensive statutory civil process, as has been established in other jurisdictions such as British Columbia in Canada. Doing so would recognise survivors’ wishes to …
Gov response: Reject We currently have little evidence about the effectiveness or speed of the process in British Columbia, which this proposed statutory civil process is based on. Additionally, many of the functions of the recommended civil …
No Published Response
#10 — Expand the Data Bill's solicitation clause to criminalise all image-based abuse offences.
Recommendation: The law on solicitation was unclear, incomplete and open to misinterpretation by law enforcement agencies and others. We welcome the Government’s proposals to introduce a specific offence of solicitation for synthetic content via an amendment to the Data (Use and …
Gov response: Reject Where someone encourages or assists the commission of an offence which they anticipate might take place in England or Wales, such as taking or sharing intimate images, this is already an offence under provisions …
No Published Response
#2 — Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme's offence list outdated, excludes online harms
Recommendation: The list of offences that are within scope of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is out of date. Crimes perpetrated online, such as non-consensual intimate image abuse, can be just as damaging to a person as those involving physical violence. …
Gov response: Reject We have carefully considered potential changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme’s scope, including the views of respondents to consultations undertaken by the previous Government. Our conclusion is that we will maintain the current …
No Published Response
#16 — Non-consensual intimate image abuse extends beyond sexually explicit content.
Recommendation: Non-consensual intimate image abuse is not always limited to sexually explicit content. For example, in some cultures, countries, or religions, sharing a photograph of someone without their religious clothing—or with their arm around another person—can be disastrous for the victim. …
Gov response: Partial acceptance Google is able to consider this recommendation and accepting signing up to StopNCII.org hash-matching technology if it wishes to. The Government would support Google adopting this technology or any other technology if it …
Under Consideration
#14 — Discuss Online Safety Commission proposals with Revenge Porn Helpline for potential collaboration or expanded role.
Recommendation: The UK already has an excellent organisation doing some of this work in the form of the Revenge Porn Helpline. The Government should discuss the proposals set out above with the RPH to determine what relationship the RPH could have …
Gov response: Reject The Online Safety Act contains strong provisions for user redress designed to support individuals, including those who are victims of NCII abuse. It requires all user-to-user and search services regulated by the Act to …
No Published Response
#4 — New Crime and Policing Bill offences mark significant progress against NCII abuse
Recommendation: We welcome the inclusion in the Crime and Policing Bill of the new offences of taking an intimate image without consent and of installing equipment for the purposes of enabling the commission of those offences. We also welcome the Government’s …
Gov response: The Government will explore the feasibility of producing specific guidance for internet infrastructure providers and web browser manufacturers. The Government also continues to identify areas where it can build on existing legislation and initiatives relating …
No Published Response
#15 — Explore funding options for the Online Safety Commission, including a levy on relevant bodies.
Recommendation: The Government should explore whether the funding for such a Commission could be generated, at least in part, by a levy on bodies within scope of the OSA on a similar basis to that which exists in other regulated environments. …
Gov response: Reject The Online Safety Act contains strong provisions for user redress designed to support individuals, including those who are victims of NCII abuse. It requires all user-to-user and search services regulated by the Act to …
No Published Response