UK Government to Discuss Introducing Unsolicited Sexual Image Law

The UK Government is planning to review whether or not the sending of unsolicited sexual images should be made into a criminal offence.

It has just published a strategy refresh for the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) scheme, which has had £100 million dedicated to it between 2016 and 2020.

As part of the new strategy, officials will explore how to address the issue of “online flashing” and consider whether it should carry the same punishment as public indecent exposure.

A government-funded survey found that 41% of UK women aged 18-36 have received a nude image they didn’t ask for. Only 5% of men in the same age bracket admitted to sending such an image.

Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd has been campaigning for online flashing to be banned in the US. A bill was introduced in Texas last week which would see offenders punished with a fine of up to $500.

A contributor for the Guardian wrote an article at the end of last year asking for a similar law to be introduced. This came after a group of UK MPs expressed the concern that current sexual harassment laws were failing to keep up with technology.

The government has promised to work closely with a number of online dating services to raise awareness around VAWG.

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