Fay Jones MP urged the Government to make cyberflashing a criminal offence during Home Office statement today.
Cyberflashing is the unsolicited distribution of naked photos via technology, often causing the recipient to become distressed, intimidated and uncomfortable.
A 2018 YouGov poll of women aged 18-36 found 4 in 10 women had received an unsolicited so-called ‘d*** pic’. One high profile case consisted of a female commuter being airdropped two explicit photos, but British Transport Police were unable to bring about a prosecution due to lack of evidence.
Speaking via video link to the House of Commons Chamber, Fay Jones MP praised both the Government and the Safeguarding Minister for their determination in prioritising the Domestic Abuse Bill last year. Miss Jones sat on the Domestic Abuse Bill Committee, which was at one point threatened by delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Miss Jones went on to ask the Minister for Safeguarding to consider making cyberflashing a criminal offence.
The Minister for Safeguarding, Victoria Atkins MP responded by highlighting the call for evidence currently being run by the Home Office on producing a new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. The Minister reassured Miss Jones that she “very much wants those sorts of 21st Century online crimes to be dealt with”.
Commenting on her call to tackle cyberflashing, Fay Jones MP said:
“I was once flashed on a night out in Cardiff. I could have had that man arrested and prosecuted as intentionally flashing in public is a criminal offence. But, if a person digitally exposes their genitals unsolicited, then it is not currently the same offence.
“This needs to change. No one should be made to feel alarmed, distressed or intimidated as a result of being sent an unsolicited explicit photo. With so many of our young people living their lives online, often with their own mobile phones, we need to put a stop to cyberflashing.
“I welcome the Minister for Safeguarding’s commitment to tackling 21st Century online crimes and the ongoing consultation to produce a new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. Having worked with her on the Domestic Abuse Bill, I look forward to continuing our work to protect women and girls from abuse.”