UK Government Proposes New Offences Against Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery

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The UK government is set to introduce new legislation aimed at combating the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and related offenses. Under the proposed reforms, individuals who take intimate photos without the subject’s consent could face up to two years in prison. Additionally, the bill will address the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images as a new criminal offense.

Currently, while there are laws against sharing such images, the act of taking them without consent has limited legal grounds. The new law aims to broaden these protections, covering cases where individuals set up cameras to record or capture intimate images without consent. The changes are being championed by Labour and are part of the upcoming crime and policing bill, expected to be presented to parliament this spring.

Alex Davies-Jones, the victims minister, highlighted the critical nature of the issue, noting that one in three women have experienced online abuse. She criticized the normalization of such behaviors and emphasized the need for urgent legislative action to protect women and girls.

Feminist organizations, including End Violence Against Women, have cautiously welcomed the proposal but are urging the government to provide a timeline for implementation to ensure timely protection for victims. Advocates like TV presenter Jess Davies have called the situation an emergency, stressing the long-lasting harm caused by intimate-image abuse and the necessity for decisive legal actions to combat it.

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