Experiences of Individuals Who Have had Illicit Images Shared Without Their Consent

In the age of social media and the smartphone, it has never been easier to take and transfer images to a huge number of people across the globe. Similarly, it has never been easier for individuals to create and access sexually explicit material. In 2015, a new law was introduced in the UK to make sharing private sexual images without consent punishable by up to 2 years in prison. This law was created to criminalise an act popularly defined as 'revenge porn', defined as the circulation of sexual images without the subject's consent. The images themselves may have been taken without consent, consensually taken but shared beyond the subject's approval, or taken and distributed as aresult of hacking. Since the law was passed, reporting of the crime has increased considerably, and incidences frequently make headlines. From the celebrity iCloud hack that released hundreds of private sexual images of female celebrities, to individuals who have found themselves the victim of non-consensual image sharing, it seems that anyone can be made a victim. Predictably, the repercussions of having illicit images shared without consent can be severe. This research project aims to interview individuals who have had illicit images of themselves shared online without their consent. It would aim to explore the severity that the release of these images had on the individuals, including repercussions on their mental health, their careers, and their relationships with others. Additionally, it would question what steps (if any) the individual took to take control of these images and find justice. This could be a formal proceeding, such as reporting the incident to the police, or reporting the images to the hosted website. It could also include informal actions, such as confronting the perpetrator directly. Finally, it would aim to examine if the sharing of these images has caused changes to the behaviour of the individual - for instance, have they changed their image sharing habits. The study would offer much needed insight into the experiences of those victimised by this crime and could offer evidence that improved support or legislation is needed. Studying the non-consensual sharing of sexual images is made all the more important by its taboo nature. By interviewing individuals affected by this crime, the study will give voice to people who may feel uncomfortable or incapable discussing their experiences under normal circumstances. Furthermore, as legislation criminalising the act is so recent, this study will contribute to assessing the effectiveness of the law, a question which is lacking in other studies. Do those who have experienced the offence feel that the law has defended them appropriately? There have been only a few studies regarding individuals with these experiences - as the act of sharing images online without consent is so recent, there is much less literature on this topic than other sexual crimes. Therefore, this study intends to contribute to the work of others, helping to create a more comprehensive and well-rounded picture of what it means to fall victim to this crime. The participants for this study must be individuals over the age of 18, who claim to have had illicit images of themselves shared without their consent. Although some similar studies focus on the experiences of women, no gender restrictions will be placed for this project, as it could result in the elimination of eligible male participants and the loss of a valuable perspective. Every effort would be made to recruit participants across a wide range of demographics, including age, ethnicity, and religion. Data for this study will be collected via qualitative interviews, to best gain information regarding the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of the individual. Additionally, the research project would take great care to handle such a sensitive topic to the highest of ethical considerations, minimising harm for the participant as much as possible.