View all newsletters
Have the short, sharp Spear's newsletter delivered to your inbox each week
  1. Law
July 29, 2014updated 11 Jan 2016 1:34pm

‘Revenge porn’ law not required in UK, according to peers’ review

By Spear's

As reported today by the BBC, a review of existing laws on social media crime has concluded that current legislation is already sufficient to deal with ‘revenge porn’.

Chaired by Lord Best, the House of Lords Communications Committee said that while current laws were ‘generally appropriate’, greater clarification was required from the DPP as to when someone has committed a criminal offence via the posting of indecent images.

While existing law pre-dates social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, prosecutions for ‘revenge porn’ activities can currently be brought under legislation including the 2003 Communications Act and the 1997 Protection from Harassment Act.

The committee’s review also made a number of recommendations to curb this growing modern problem. Websites should develop better real-time monitoring systems, they said, while schools should provide better education as to what is acceptable online behaviour. Social media sites were also encouraged to repond quicker to police requests for information.

Two peers have also called for a clause to be added to Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which would result in a one-year jail term for the publication of explicit images of ex-partners without their knowledge or consent.

It is feared by some that the introduction of a specific law to curb the problem could inhibit freedom of speech. ‘Revenge porn’ laws have already been introduced in several US states including California, where self-taken images are not afforded the same protection as others, much to the disdain of internet safety campaigners.

Read our recent legal feature on the unnerving rise of revenge porn and how to avoid it here.

Content from our partners
Abu Dhabi: How the 'capital of capital' became a magnet for UHNWs
Abu Dhabi Finance Week in the 'Capital of Capital'
Experience Seekers: The Future of Luxury Travel

Select and enter your email address The short, sharp email newsletter from Spear’s
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network