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Ministers questioned on current legislation to tackle non-consensual intimate image abuse

15 November 2024

The Women and Equalities Committee will question Home Office Minister Jess Phillips and Ministry of Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones on the adequacy of current laws on tackling non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse during an evidence session in Parliament on Wednesday, 20 November.

MPs on the cross-party Committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, will hear from the police on their response to NCII, as well as from two academics on the legal status of NCII content and assess the effectiveness of making NCII abuse a priority offence under the Online Safety Act.

The session is also expected to touch upon what legislative steps are required to tackle the proliferation of deepfake images and nudification apps, and the existing provisions around culturally intimate images. Non-consensual intimate image abuse occurs when intimate content such as photos or video is produced, published, or reproduced without consent.

During the second panel discussion, the two ministers will be questioned on topics including: the policing of NCII, the use of hashing technology, funding support services, the legal status of NCII, the fact the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme does not currently apply to victims of online abuse, plus what the Government is doing to tackle the rise of real and synthetic NCII.

Witnesses        

Panel 1, 2.20pm:

  • Professor Lorna Woods, Professor of Law, Essex Law School, University of Essex
  • Professor Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law, University of Durham
  • Samantha Millar, Assistant Chief Constable and Strategic Programme Director of the VAWG Taskforce, National Police Chiefs’ Council

Panel 2, approx. 3.20pm:

  • Jess Phillips, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, Home Office
  • Alex Davies-Jones, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice
  • Laura Weight, Interim Director, Vulnerabilities and Criminal Law Policy Directorate, Ministry of Justice
  • Gisela Carr, Deputy Director of the Interpersonal Abuse Unit, Home Office

The Committee heard from Revenge Porn Helpline campaigners and two tech platforms during the first session on 6 November of its new short inquiry into NCII. The session examined the impact of NCII abuse on victims, and what steps Google and Microsoft are taking to prevent and tackle NCII.

Further information

Image: House of Commons