A woman revealed to the BBC that her nude photos were posted online after her phone was hacked. The woman, identified as Jane, said she felt extremely angry after learning that her private photos had been stolen and posted on a photo-sharing website. This intrusion of privacy deeply affected her sense of security and well-being.
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04-01, 2025Below the photos, users left vulgar and misogynistic comments. Some even encouraged the poster to upload more photos of her. "I just couldn't believe it," Jane told the BBC, "that some men were getting sexual gratification from photos of me that were shared without my permission." The comments added insult to injury, highlighting the exploitative nature of the situation.
Jane is one of more than a dozen women in the same area of the UK whose social media accounts were hacked two years ago. The BBC understands that their private photos – originally sent in private messages on social media – were all posted on the same website. Some of the women's names were also published along with the photos. Two of the women were under 18 when the photos were taken, meaning that, legally, the photos would also be classified as indecent images of children. This further complicates the legal and ethical dimensions of the case.
Jane later discovered that photos of some other women had also been posted on different websites. "It makes me so angry that someone has taken what I thought was mine and sent privately," Jane said. "I feel so exposed… it's disgusting." Posting someone's private photos online without their consent is a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison. Although the perpetrators are not former partners and have no revenge motive, some people habitually call such crimes "revenge porn," while victims prefer the term "non-consensual image abuse." The distinction in terminology reflects the broader impact beyond just revenge scenarios.
Jane is now calling on media regulator Ofcom to investigate using powers granted to it by the Online Safety Act. The law lists 130 "priority offenses" that companies should focus on preventing, including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Earlier this week, Ofcom was given new powers to crack down on illegal content. Tech companies must now ensure that staff prioritize reported content and establish systems to help them do so. Companies that violate the new rules could face fines of up to £18 million. This legislation aims to hold tech companies accountable for the content hosted on their platforms.
Tessa Gregory, a partner at law firm Leigh Day, is representing Jane in her complaint to Ofcom. She told the BBC that the Revenge Porn Helpline, which supports adults who have experienced intimate image abuse, helped Jane find the photos by conducting online reverse image searches and contacting pornographic websites on her behalf. Ms. Gregory said she now wants Ofcom to "take swift and decisive action" against these websites. She said Ofcom should publish a notice online when it begins an investigation. "We want to know if they are already investigating this, because it seems very prevalent, and we would expect them to be, but we haven't seen any evidence that they are," Ms. Gregory said. She added that she and Jane want Ofcom to take action not only against the websites hosting the photos, but also against the search engines that direct people to them. This comprehensive approach is crucial to effectively address the issue.
Ofcom told the BBC that they are aware of Jane's case and are "considering any appropriate follow-up action." It added that it has "a wide range of enforcement powers to hold tech companies to account under the Online Safety Act" and "will not hesitate to use them where necessary." Ofcom insiders told the BBC that the regulator will prioritize websites based on a variety of factors, including the scope of the impact and the risks posed to people. The regulator's response suggests a commitment to addressing online harms within its jurisdiction.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which aims to eliminate child sexual abuse images online, launched a campaign last year called "Think Before You Share." The campaign aims to educate young people about the potential risks of sharing nude photos and how those photos can be posted elsewhere without their consent. The IWF's Emma Hardy told the BBC that, often, by the time they find an image or video, it has "already spiraled out of control." "It's already gone beyond a trusted partnership, and it's potentially being sold online," she said. "It's being collected and collated into places for people who have a sexual interest in that age or gender of object." The campaign underscores the importance of digital literacy and awareness.
Jane fears that if swift action is not taken, her photos will continue to circulate. "I know that people have saved these photos on their computers, so I have no control over these photos," she said. "I think revenge porn and non-consensual image abuse festers and spreads. You think they've gone, but they might be reposted in the future." But she argues that it is unrealistic to expect people never to share their private photos privately – and that websites have an obligation not to host those photos if they are stolen or leaked. "I think it's wrong to think that people are never going to send nudes. Certain websites have a duty to protect your privacy. There needs to be a shift in mindset, not to blame the victim because they sent the photo in the first place. We thought it was private." Her perspective highlights the need for both individual responsibility and corporate accountability.
Clarification: This report has been updated to clarify which websites Ofcom plans to prioritize.
