The Naked Truth report has revealed just how common intimate image abuse is worldwide

The survey evaluated how many people worldwide are affected by this type of abuse.

Intimate image abuse refers to the sharing of private images of a person without their consent. The images are typically of someone engaging in a sexual act, or showing intimate parts of their body.

According to the Department of Justice: "It doesn’t matter if the person in the image willingly took it and sent it to someone they trusted, if it is then shared with others without their consent, a criminal offence has taken place.

"It can also refer to a picture taken or content recorded without the knowledge of the person in the image."

The report found that almost half of the respondents worldwide were either a survivor of this type of abuse or knew someone that was a victim.

69% of 16-24 year olds responded that they had experienced the abuse or knew someone that had. 64% of 25-34 year olds said the same.

Avoiding victim blaming

Sophie Mortimer from Revenge Porn Helpline said: "We can see every day that intimate image abuse is a continuing problem, but this study shows us where we need to take action: building a national and international conversation about the meaning and importance of consent, improving online safety knowledge for adults and young people alike and making it clear that, when intimate image abuse happens, it is the perpetrators who are entirely at fault."

This came after half of respondents in the survey said that victims should have been aware that the images could have ended up in the wrong hands.

However, 85% said that perpetrators should receive a legal penalty for the violation.

The Irish government passed Coco's Law in 2021, otherwise known as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and related Offences Act.

Coco's Law criminalises the sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without the consent of the person who took them.

Offenders may face up to seven years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Victims of intimate image abuse can report the crime to Hotline.ie, who will work to take down the image and will notify An Garda Síochána to investigate the crime.

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