The latest insights provide an indication of the cases the Revenge Porn Helpline supported in 2023, including a significant rise in the number of reports. Overall, nearly 19,000 reports were made to the Helpline last year, a 106% increase in reports compared to 2022.
Out of the cases the Revenge Porn Helpline supported, sextortion remained the predominant form of intimate image abuse reported to the Helpline, totalling 34% of the reports received in 2023. Overall, cases of sextortion were up 54% when compared to 2022, and cases continued to disproportionately affect men, making up 93% of sextortion reports.
Alongside the latest data from 2023, the Revenge Porn Helpline can reveal that it has now removed over 305,000 non-consensually shared intimate images online since launching in 2015. This significant milestone is reinforced further by the Helpline’s consistent 90% removal rate, helping to ensure that thousands of adults affected by intimate image abuse across the UK have had their images removed online.
Find out more about the key data revealed in 2023, and how the Revenge Porn Helpline has supported those affected by intimate image abuse last year.
Reports to the Helpline
The significant increase in reports to the Revenge Porn Helpline reflects the growing awareness around intimate image abuse and the Helpline’s position as the only dedicated intimate image abuse helpline in the UK.
The rise in cases considers all methods of contacting the Helpline, which can be reached by phone, email, anonymous form, or by their 24/7 website chatbot. Last year, it was revealed that the Helpline received 3,258 phone calls between January and September 2023, an increase of 31% from the same period in 2022. Alongside this, August marked the busiest week and month for the Helpline since it began operations in 2015.
In March 2023, the distressing case of Georgia Harrison, a reality TV star, spotlighted the severe consequences of intimate image abuse. The perpetrator was found guilty of sharing a private video without Harrison's consent, highlighting the pervasive issue of digital abuse. This legal battle not only underscored the emotional and psychological toll on victims/survivors but also emphasised the importance of digital consent and privacy.
The perpetrator's conviction and imprisonment served as a stark reminder of the legal protections in place to combat such abuses. The case reiterates the urgent need for a respectful digital culture, stronger legal frameworks, and collective action to ensure online safety. It serves as a crucial lesson on the importance of consent and the collective responsibility to prevent digital abuse, advocating for a safer, more respectful online environment.
Coverage of the case resulted in a significant rise in cases reported to the Revenge Porn Helpline, suggesting that Georgia’s courage inspired other individuals affected to seek support.
Sextortion
Sextortion, also known as webcam blackmail, has remained the most reported issue to the Helpline since a significant increase in cases during 2021. As previous data has revealed, whilst intimate image abuse is most likely to affect women, men continue to be disproportionately affected by sextortion.
Last year, the Revenge Porn Helpline reported a shift in how blackmailers were targeting people with sextortion scams, with an increase to around 20% of cases resulting in intimate images being shared. As a result of this, the Helpline developed a dedicated sextortion awareness page to provide more information and support to those affected.
Removal Rate
The Revenge Porn Helpline has maintained a successful takedown rate of 90%, alongside continuously supporting clients affected by intimate image abuse, reporting illegally shared images dating back to 2020.
However, the Revenge Porn Helpline continues to work towards addressing the remaining 10% of content that isn’t removed. The 10% of content which isn’t taken down is often a result of intimate images being reshared across websites which fail to comply with takedown requests.
The Helpline continues working towards ensuring all intimate images are removed, and that the appropriate changes are made to ensure that all illegally shared intimate content must be removed from websites following a conviction.
A Year of Awareness
As the Helpline supported an increasing number of reports, 2023 was also a significant year for intimate image abuse laws, with the passing of the Online Safety Act introducing a new wave of strengthened legislation. The amended laws, which came into effect on January 31st 2024, broadened the scope of intimate image offences and removed requirements for the prosecution to prove intent to cause distress when intimate images were shared without consent.
Furthermore, last year saw the second anniversary of StopNCII.org, an online tool operated by SWGfL. In November, it was announced that 182,000 adults across the world had created cases on StopNCII.org to protect their intimate images from being shared by perpetrators of intimate image abuse.
About the Revenge Porn Helpline
The Revenge Porn Helpline is a service that has been operated by SWGfL and delivered by the UK Safer Internet Centre since 2015. We are the first dedicated helpline in the UK to support adults affected by intimate image abuse and have assisted thousands of adults since opening.
Any adult affected by intimate image abuse in the UK can get in touch with us by calling 0345 6000 459 or emailing help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk. We are open Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm, excluding bank holidays.
To find out more information about intimate image abuse and our work, visit revengepornhelpline.org.uk
