A new report co-authored by Kent Law School Professor Erika Rackley reveals how sexual images shared online without consent can be devastating for victims – who then find that the law fails them.
Shattering Lives and Myths: A Report on Image-Based Sexual Abuse has been produced by Professor Rackley in collaboration with Professor Clare McGlynn and Dr Kelly Johnson from Durham University. Drawing on 25 interviews with victim-survivors, the report reveals the extent of the devastation caused by image-based sexual abuse.
Professor Rackley said: ‘Victim-survivors experience image-based sexual abuse that is constant, ongoing and relentless. It not only shatters their lives, but also the lives of those who love and support them.’
Victim-survivors experience it as an extreme and intrusive violation that doesn’t ever stop, making them feel totally isolated from family, friends and society as a whole.Many suffer harassment and fear for their safety, say the researchers.
Research undertaken by Professor Rackley and her colleagues showed that current laws are too limited and are ‘gambling with people’s lives’. Although welcoming the Government’s plan to review the legislation, they are calling for urgent action before more people suffer.
Professor Rackley said: ‘Action is needed now. Many forms of image-based sexual abuse are not covered by the current law. The Government’s current timetable suggests that victim-survivors of image-based sexual abuse will have to wait until at least 2022 for vital new laws to protect their anonymity and criminalise threats and fakeporn.’
Image-based sexual abuse refers to a broad range of abusive behaviours, including the taking and/or distribution of nude or sexual images without consent, and threats to do so, which includes so-called ‘revenge porn’, ‘upskirting’, ‘fakeporn’, sexual extortion and videos of sexual assaults and rapes.
Professor Rackley teaches Tort law at Kent. She also has research interests in judging and the judiciary (including feminist judgments) and feminist legal history.