The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
‘Revenge porn’ jail warning
Campaign highlights tough penalties for sharing intimate images
Posters showing a mobile phone with nude pictures covered in crime scene tape feature in a new campaign highlighting tough jail terms for sharing intimate images without consent.
Those convicted of sharing or threatening to share an intimate photo or video can be jailed for up to five years under the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm Act due to come into force later this year.
A Scottish Government campaign shows a phone screen with photos of a naked man and woman covered by crime scene tape and the warning: “Share intimate images online and you could get five years in prison.”
Justice secretaryMichael Matheson said: “Disclosing private images can be extremely cruel and degrading, and can cause fear and alarm.
“Sharing, or threatening to share, such images can also be used in a highly abusive and manipulative way to seek to control a partner or ex-partner.
“We have developed this campaign together with key agencies including Scottish Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Assist, Police Scotland and the Crown Office to ensure it reflects what we know is happening across Scotland and beyond.
“These organisations are seeing first-hand the incredible pain being caused by intimate images being passed around.
“Too many people are suffering because pictures of them, that they believed were only for a trusted person to see, are being shared online.
“Through this campaign and, working with the police and others, I’m determined to drive home the message that there is no place for victimisation like this in a modern Scotland. And that those who think otherwise will soon face the full force of the law.”