I Can't Unsee That! A Discussion About ‘Cyber Flashing’, Indecently Exposed

• In Event: Sexual Assault Case Processing: Changes and Challenges

Abstract

Since the introduction and growth of the online environment new crimes have emerged and old crimes have come to be committed in new ways. One such crime that has shifted to the online environment is indecent exposure or ‘flashing’. The online but not widely criminalised version of this behaviour is referred to as ‘cyber flashing’. To date, international research has examined what motivates people to engage in cyber flashing behaviour and how those on the receiving end respond to experiences of being cyber flashed. The evidence suggests that cyber flashing occurs at significantly high rates with victims describing the experience as another form of sexual violence. While this behaviour remains legally permissible in Australia and other countries, albeit sexually violent, victims have little recourse for formal responses. This presentation will provide an overview of the research to date, limitations in Australian laws to address cyber flashing, an argument for criminalisation and the proposed next steps to gauge the prevalence and victimisation experiences of cyber flashing in the Australian context.

Author

• Suzanne Brumby, University of Southern Queensland