The UK government has taken a decisive step in combatting online sexual abuse by making the sharing of intimate images without consent a ‘priority offence’ under the Online Safety Act. This means social media companies will be legally required to proactively remove such content or face substantial fines.
Announced on 13 September 2024 by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the new law strengthens online safety and ensures tech firms play an active role in preventing and removing non-consensual intimate images from their platforms.
Voices of Support
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Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips highlighted the importance of this change, noting that intimate image abuse is a national emergency requiring immediate action. She said, “Technology companies must do much more to tackle this invasive crime and safeguard users online.”
Journalist and advocate Georgia Harrison, a victim of image-based abuse, praised the initiative: “This new legislation could have shielded me from such exploitation and, more importantly, validated that my voice matters.
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Next Steps
The Online Safety Act will come into force next year, introducing comprehensive protections that require online platforms to monitor, prevent, and remove illegal content, including intimate image abuse. These reforms will help ensure that platforms take responsibility for the content they host and that victims of online abuse are supported.
With the announcement of the new law, the government reaffirms its commitment to creating a safer online environment and ensuring that tech companies are held accountable for their role in preventing online abuse.
