Non-consensual dissemination of intimate images: Impact on victims and their willingness to report.

• In Event: Image-based sexual abuse: victimization, perpetration, prevention, and policing.

Abstract

Non-consensual dissemination of intimate images (NCII) is a phenomenon that has increased in prevalence and intensity in the last decades. With the digitalisation of society, the offence seems to have become widespread. According to different scholars, NCII has a significant impact on the victims in different ways. For these reasons, a number of legislative changes have been made in recent years to provide better protection for victims and stricter punishment for perpetrators. However, in order to achieve this, it is important that victims report the offence to the police. This presentation focuses on the impact of NCII on victims and their willingness to report this offence. The findings presented are based on two empirical studies. The first study was conducted using an online survey (N = 543; 69.61% females; Mage = 20.07, SD = 2.30) distributed through Facebook. This was an exploratory study of NCII among young people with the aim of better understanding the consequences for victims and their reporting. It involved online in-depth interviews with Flemish, young female victims of NCII (N = 6, ages: 20-27) on the consequences they experienced. Some of these young women reported the offence to the police. From the studies it can be concluded that NCII is associated with mental, emotional, and social consequences. In addition, we see that the reporting rates are quite low, as victims face various barriers. Some of these barriers appear to be specific to (the impact of) the offence itself. A number of other barriers and difficulties relate to the police and the reporting process.

Author

• Silke Van den Eynde, LINC, KU Leuven