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.
Key changes under the new law:
- Priority Offence Classification: Sharing intimate images without consent will now be categorized as one of the most severe online crimes, placing it alongside offences like the sale of weapons and public order violations.
- Proactive Removal: Social media platforms and search services will be obligated to take swift action to prevent the spread of non-consensual images and ensure their removal.
- Heavy Fines for Non-Compliance: Platforms that fail to comply with these new regulations could face penalties amounting to 10% of their global revenue, as enforced by the regulator, Ofcom.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated, “The rise in intimate image abuse online is utterly intolerable. This change ensures that tech companies step up and play their part in tackling this devastating crime, preventing the creation of a misogynistic culture online.
The move comes as part of the government’s broader mission to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade. This initiative addresses the growing concerns over the normalisation of such content on social media platforms and its impact on offline relationships.
Voices of Support
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.
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.
