Prime Minister considering change in law to end ‘dreadful’ increase in jilted men posting explicit pictures of ex-girlfriends online.
David Cameron has backed proposals to make posting porn online for revenge illegal, acknowledging in the Commons it “clearly has criminal intent”.
The Prime Minister said it was “appalling” that men post explicit images of their former partners online and said he hopes to support a change in the law.
Victims often find that the images are impossible to remove once they are posted online as they are reproduced on a host of other sites within minutes.
Experts have warned the humiliating practice is increasingly common in Britain, jeopardising careers and future relationships.. It has been linked to suicides in the United States.
Maria Miller, the former culture secretary, raised the issue with David Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions.
She said: “The Safer Internet Centre estimates up to 30 websites host UK online revenge pornography images, another form of sexual abuse.
“Do you agree that posting such material has to be recognised for what it is – a criminal sexual offence against its victims?”
Mr Cameron said: “You are absolutely right, this is an appalling offence, a dreadful thing for someone to do and it clearly has criminal intent.
“I’m very glad you are championing this cause and I hope, having looked in detail at the amendments you are suggesting, we can take up this cause.”
Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, last week said the government is having a “serious discussion” about the growing problem.
There is currently no law to address the issue.
There are only laws preventing “malicious communications”, which usually involves written abuse not pictures, and harassment laws which usually require a number of offences.
The Ministry of Justice is expected to now look at how existing sexual offences laws could be amended to outlaw the distribution of sexual images without the person’s consent.
