Revenge Porn | Everything You Need To Know

What is revenge porn? 

In short, revenge porn is the sharing of sexual footage (photos or videos) of another person without their consent. Typically, once an individual has acquired the sexually explicit material, they will: 

• Blackmail the individual 
• Coerce them into continuing a relationship
• Threaten the individual by informing them that they will distribute the images to family or friends
• Humiliate or publicly embarrass the victim 
• Threaten the person that will send the content to their employer

Please note that revenge porn is not limited to the above and may entail various other behaviours and actions. Therefore, in any case where you have not consented to someone sharing personal sexual content, you should contact the police.

What shall I do if I am a victim of revenge porn? 

If you have become a victim of revenge porn, it can be very frightening and distressing. Therefore we have comprised a list of 5 steps you can follow after falling victim to this offence: 

1. The first thing you should do is report the incident to the police. The police will be able to initiate an investigation and look into who has shared the content. 
2. Secondly, you should report the person who has shared the content online. To do this, you should follow the online report service of the platform the person has used to share the content.
3. Thirdly, you should clarify to the person who has shared the content that it’s unacceptable and that you have reported the matter to the police. 
4. Fourthly, you may find it best to discourage people from sharing the image by emphasising the police are now investigating the matter.
5. Lastly, you can call the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247. Falling victim to this crime is traumatising and can be very upsetting. Therefore, if you feel the need to speak to someone, you can call the helpline.

What defences are there to this offence? 

If a person or the police have accused you of revenge porn, don’t worry. The first thing you should do is contact a lawyer to advise on the strength of the evidence and your potential defences.

The most common defences used to overturn a revenge porn accusation include: 

• Providing the court evidence that the accused reasonably believed the content had been previously disclosed for reward, whether by the individual or another person. 
• Present that the accused intended to disclose the content to publish journalistic material or believe it was in the public interest. 
• Provide evidence to the court that the accused reasonably believed that the disclosure was necessary to prevent, detect, or investigate crime.

It’s important to note that defences for revenge porn are not limited to the above. Therefore you should always seek a lawyer as they will advise you individually and assess your potential defences. 

To get in contact with an expert criminal defence lawyer today, call us on 020 3795 9020. 

How can LGBT Lawyers help? 

If you or a person you know is currently facing an accusation of revenge porn, they must seek legal advice. A criminal lawyer who specialises in revenge porn matters can provide you with advice and court representation, giving you the best chance of success. 

Typically, when facing a revenge porn matter, lawyers will first require an initial consultation to understand the case. 

An initial consultation will outline: 

• The cost of your legal matter
• An overview of where you stand legally 
• Your available options