Intimate image abuse laws in the UK
England and Wales
As of January 31st 2024, the legislation in England and Wales has changed. The date of when the incident happened, will affect which legislation can be used. The new legislation introduced, is not retrospective, meaning it will not be applied to offences which happened before the date of commencement.
If the incident happened between April 2015 and 31st January 2024, please see the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.
If the incident happened after 31st January 2024, please see the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Section 66b of the Sexual Offences Act (2003) will replace the Criminal Justice and Courts Act (2015) on 31st January 2024.
The new offences:
- Sharing an intimate image without consent, or reasonable belief in consent.
- Sharing an intimate image without consent, with the intent to cause alarm distress and humiliation.
- Sharing an intimate image without consent, or reasonable belief in consent, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.
- Threatening to share an intimate image.
The legal definition of an intimate image:
- Images that show, or appear to show, a person who is nude or partially nude or which depict sexual or toileting behaviour:
o A sexual act, or something considered as sexual.
o All, or part of, the person’s exposed genitals, buttocks, or breasts
o All, or part of, a person’s exposed genitals, buttocks, or breasts are only visible through wet/transparent clothing or obscured by underwear.
• Manufactured or altered images (including 'deepfakes').
Scotland
In Scotland, it is against the law to share, or threaten to share, an intimate image, with the intent to cause fear, alarm or distress, or recklessness to do so.
The legal definition of an intimate image includes images of a sexual act or which show a person's genitals, buttocks or breasts which are exposed or covered only with underwear. Deepfakes (altered or edited sexual images) are included as intimate images.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, it is against the law to share, or threaten to share, an intimate image, with the intent to cause distress.
The legal definition of an intimate image includes nude images which show all or part of a person's exposed genitals or pubic area. Deepfakes (altered or edited sexual images) are not included.
Republic of Ireland
In the Republic of Ireland, it is against the law to share, or threaten to share, an intimate image, with the intent to cause distress.
The legal definition of an intimate image includes nude images which show all or part of a person's exposed genitals or pubic area. Deepfakes (altered or edited sexual images) are included.