UK Safer Internet Centre Sextortion Report
Executive Summary:
The Revenge Porn Helpline supports adults (18+) in the UK who have been affected by intimate image abuse. This includes the criminal acts of sharing, taking or threatening to share intimate images without consent, including voyeurism and sextortion. This analysis provides an insight into the experiences of 127 clients who were victims of sextortion. Our conclusions reinforce the gendered nature of the offence as around 85% of sextortion victims who were surveyed identify as men, while 64% of the respondents were aged between 18-34. Young men are the group most affected by sextortion and this report aims to shed light on the experiences of those affected, by analysing the behaviours and patterns of those who target individuals online. Victims reported significant uncertainty and stress regarding the potential exposure of their intimate content, with 54% unsure if their material had been made public.
Additionally, the research highlights a significant dissatisfaction with the police response to reports about sextortion. Despite numerous reports, only one perpetrator out of 127 cases was imprisoned, reflecting the limited success in prosecuting offenders and the challenges victims face in seeking justice.
The report concludes with recommendations for government, industry, education, and civil society on how to collaborate to improve protective measures and practices. These recommendations focus on safeguarding users from intimate image abuse and ensuring that stronger preventive strategies are put in place to protect people online. The UK Safer Internet Centre is highlighting the urgent need for better cross-border cooperation and effective police training on how to support victims in a sensitive and supportive way. Additionally, platforms must implement stronger identity verification and content monitoring tools to prevent offenders from switching between platforms and creating new accounts, while improved collaboration between law enforcement and support services is crucial to address both the legal and psychological impact of sextortion.
