LGBTI people at greatest risk for revenge porn
A national study has shown one in five Australians have been the victim of “revenge porn”, and LGBTI people are the most at risk.
Also known as “image-based abuse”, revenge porn occurs when an ex-partner distributes explicit images without consent, usually as a means of humiliation.
The study, conducted by RMIT and Monash Universities, found men were more likely to be victims, but men and women were equally likely to be targeted. Female victims were more likely to hold fears for their safety.
One in five people surveyed had an explicit photo taken of them without permission, and 11 per cent had their image shared without consent.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual people were more likely to be victims, with 36 per cent reporting revenge porn compared to 21 per cent of straight respondents.
Other minority groups such as Indigenous people and people with disabilities were also at greater risk.
“Image-based abuse has emerged so rapidly as an issue that inevitably our laws and policies are struggling to catch up,” said researcher Dr Nicola Henry in a release.
“This is not just about ‘revenge porn’—images are being used to control, abuse and humiliate people in ways that go well beyond the ‘relationship gone sour’ scenario.”
The researchers recommended a range of legal reforms and improved support services for victims.
Victoria and South Australia are the only states with laws making distributing images without consent illegal.
I cancelled my facebook & Twitter accounts within days of opening both because someone who was hiding behind one of those absurd pseudonyms so I didn’t know if I knew them or not went on the attack over what was a simple “Yes” or “No” answer to a question asked on the ABC’s Breakfast Show and they simply asked us to tweet “yes” or “No’ to a non-controversial question Virginia had asked.
I have never used any of these ill-named “social media” sites since.
There must be some legal redress available to people who have photos and other information about themselves illegally published. Facebook etc. should be held legally responsible.
The only valid option is for people to simply cancel all their accounts. Do you really need them? Can’t you simply rely on Real life Friends?
Important to note that as much as half of “revenge porn” is not sent by former partners but by other people (ie friends of friends) the victim was never in a relationship with. Often, it’s not the person who took the photo or you sent the photo to who is the perpetrator, you just never know who they might share something with or who might gain access to their devices.