The Adult Online Harms model is a national response model example aimed at policy makers, governments and stakeholders involved in creating the framework for tackling adult online harms, and in particular intimate image abuse (IIA) on a national scale.
The model highlights the need for a victim-centred response, including effective sentencing and rehabilitation programs. It also calls for mandatory education and awareness campaigns and research to inform best practices in tackling IIA. The proposals aim to reduce the impact of IIA and create a safe and secure online environment for everyone.
Glossary of Terms:
Image-based abuse: (also known as Intimate Image Abuse (IIA)) a form of online sexual harassment where intimate photos or videos are distributed without consent.
Best practice: by this we mean processes or models of practice that are accepted or prescribed as being most effective.
Essential Provision: by this we mean a basic model developed first before a more advanced version is in place.
Policy and Government
Research, Analysis, and Monitoring - National Adult Image Based Abuse Research Programme
Outcomes
- A collaborative funded framework connecting the government, regulators, independent NGOs supporting victims, and stakeholders across the violence against women and girls' sector.
- Strengthening collaborative engagement with international partners in government to progress a global shift in approach to adult online safety.
- Funded research to provide a foundation for developing programs for the design of legislation, law enforcement co-operation, victim support services, stakeholder engagement.
Best Practice
- Create or commission a national academic research capability specialising in violence against women and girls or Gender-based violence.
- Develop a framework for research, policy development, identifying best practice by engagement with stakeholders both nationally and internationally.
- Undertake or commission a national research program to scope, understand and quantify adult Image-based abuse both in terms of victim and perpetration.
- Identify existing activities and actions to inform future strategy and action plans.
Essential Provision
- Establishment of an Adult Online Safety Centre to provide a framework for research, policy development, identifying best practice by engagement with stakeholders both nationally and internationally.
- Incentivise research in the violence against women and girls’ area to demonstrate the need for an adult online safety centre.
Legislation to protect victims and investigate offenders of IIA
Outcomes
- Comprehensive and effective legislation that protects adults from all forms of IIA, including coercive control, domestic abuse, voyeurism, and sextortion. The legislation should prioritise victim support, content removal, and accountability of perpetrators through the criminal justice system.
Best Practice
- The legislation should include sufficient legal instruments to recognise and resolve IIA within national laws. The laws should be clear, specific, and narrowly drawn to protect both the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression, as suggested by Dr. Mary Anne Franks. In addition, after court proceedings, a governing body should have the duty to remove content that is deemed as shared illegally.
Essential Provision
- The legislation should criminalise IIA in all its forms.
Country Specific Examples
- https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lawcom-prod-storage-11jsxou24uy7q/uploads/2022/07/Intimate-Image-Abuse-Report.pdf
- Scottish abusive behaviour and harms act
Orchestration for the development of a national strategy to combat IIA
Outcomes
- The development of an effective national strategy through the creation of a plan that involves engagement with various stakeholders, including police, prosecutors, technology industry, government, regulators, and NGO partners. The plan should incorporate mutually agreed standards, data sharing, best practices, and training.
Best Practice
- The orchestration and coordination of efforts are essential for the success of a national strategy. The creation of a forum that brings together government and stakeholders, such as industry, law enforcement, and the third sector, can contribute jointly to the development and delivery of the Adult IIA Strategy. The forum should focus on ensuring that everyone involved has the necessary skills and appreciation of the risks associated with online abuse. It should also work across several government ministries to ensure a coordinated response to combat the harm that occurs.
Essential Provision
- A mapping and scoping exercise of those working in the landscape of violence against women and girls.
Perpetrator work to challenge public attitudes towards IIA, prevent offending, and reduce re-offending
Outcomes
- Education and awareness campaigns to reduce the prevalence of IIA (IIA) and prevent perpetration. Effective responses to offending, including a victim-centred response from police and prosecution systems, effective sentencing that acknowledges the impact on the victim, with a focus on perpetrator punishment and rehabilitation, and notification requirements where appropriate.
Best Practice
- Motivate multi-agency services, including police, NGOs, and the government, to use public campaigning to change public attitudes towards IIA. Develop and refer perpetrators to a centralised help service, such as the Respect Helpline, which provides focused resources for rehabilitation. The criminal justice system should reflect sentencing that recognises the impact on the victim and signpost perpetrators to rehabilitation programs to reduce re-offending. In addition, a criminal record check or offender list should be created for perpetrators.
Essential Provision
- Multi-agencies should acknowledge the issue and work with the criminal justice system to reduce re-offending. Legislation should be put in place to provide criminal justice for victims of IIA.
Criminal Justice System
Training for professionals supporting those affected by IIA, including police forces
Outcomes
- An effective and ongoing training program for professionals supporting those affected by IIA, including police forces, that recognises changing trends and behaviours, and uses data to inform a holistic approach. This program should be compulsory and recognise how incidents of IIA may be part of more complex and wider patterns of offending, such as domestic abuse, stalking, or image sharing. It should also enable professionals, police forces, and all police staff to appropriately signpost towards specialist services and have awareness of best practices for victim support.
Best Practice
- A compulsory training program for the whole criminal justice system, open to all professionals working with adults, with annual refreshers. The training program should be kept updated to reflect evolving trends, new services, and new legislation.
Essential Provision
- Education and training on IIA issues should be available to law enforcement agencies. Information on the impacts of IIA sharing should be shared among professionals to raise awareness and enable better victim support.
Country Specific Examples
- https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/
- https://respectphoneline.org.uk/
- https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/how-can-we-help/professional-referrals-and-training/training-for-professionals/
- Handbook on gender-responsive police services for women and girls subject to violence
- Training on work with perpetrators of domestic abuse
Research - Conducting research on IIA offences and re-offending
Outcomes
- Conducting research to provide insights on various aspects of IIA, such as conviction rates, industry response, victim impact, and mitigating factors, which can help improve best practices and adapt to changing behaviours.
Best Practice
- Publishing annual transparency reports to highlight gaps in laws and show reoffending rates. This would help identify areas that need further support and training and allow resources to be allocated accordingly. Collaborating with academic experts in the field to conduct research on the latest trends and issues related to IIA.
Essential Provision
- Collaboration with academic experts to research the prevalence of IIA offences and re-offending in their respective countries.
Country Specific Examples
Vulnerability - Identifying and Supporting Adults at Risk of IIA
Outcomes
- Provision of trauma-informed support for adults with various vulnerabilities.
- Identification of vulnerable adults and adapting support to their specific needs.
- Provision of accessible information and localised support within a national framework.
Best Practice
- Sharing of trends and emerging issues between front-line services and the government to better understand who is affected and how to support them.
- Use of research to inform and adapt front-line services for better support of vulnerable adults.
Essential Provision
- Government-commissioned annual research to investigate the prevalence of IIA in vulnerable adult groups.
Victim Reporting - Opportunities for Victims to Report Content for Removal
Outcomes
- Public promotion of available technology, such as StopNCII.org or Minerva, to facilitate the removal of intimate images.
- Promotion of services to assist with the removal of content where technology is limited.
- Available advice and support to adult victims of image-based abuse, which includes:
- Legal advice
- Content removal assistance.
Best Practice
- Integration of available technologies into all forms of response to facilitate a public health approach to preventing IIA. This includes primary prevention, secondary support, and tertiary long-term rehabilitation
Essential Provision
- Implementation of StopNCII.org and a campaign to raise awareness of the tool with the public.
- Establishment of impartial and independent reporting mechanisms, such as Report Harmful Content/NetSafe, by the government and tech industry.
Victim
Victim Helpline - providing support for adult victims of image-based abuse
Outcomes
- Protective and preventative information.
- Short-term or long-term emotional support.
- Guidance about reporting to the police and seeking justice through the criminal justice system.
- Referrals to other relevant organisations
- The age range for adult victims may vary depending on the country-specific laws and policies
Best Practice
- National helplines funded by the government to provide support and advice to adult victims of image-based abuse.
- Established networks of helplines that provide holistic support by triaging between different services.
- Collaboration with existing NGOs and organisations to support victims.
- The Adult Online Harms Centre can be a part of the victim helpline services
Essential Provision
- Campaign to raise awareness of available tools, such as StopNCII, with adults.
- Collaboration with existing NGOs and organisations to provide support to adult victims of image-based abuse.
Country Specific Examples
Victim Support - Establishing a network of services to share good practice and provide appropriate support.
Outcomes
- Establishment of a support service network of specialist organisations to share best practices and provide appropriate signposting for adult victims of image-based abuse.
Best Practice
- Established helpline networks sharing best practice and regularly updating on emerging trends to inform legislation. Victim support organisations are adequately trained to provide appropriate advice and guidance. Local adult social care and occupational health services are trained to support those in need. Appropriate adult support organisations and services, including psychological and wellbeing support.
Essential Provision
- GEstablish a coalition of adult helplines, local government support services, and victim support networks to create a national model for responding to image-based abuse.
Country Specific Examples
Inclusive Support for All Victims of Image-Based Abuse
Outcomes
- Sensitivity and understanding that not all forms of image-based abuse fall under the legislation, e.g., professional content.
- Provide advice and information for professional content creators experiencing image-based abuse.
- Support for victims of doxxing, ongoing harassment, outing, and culturally sensitive content.
Best Practice
- Establish an information-sharing partnership between helplines, health services, police, and local government to develop strategies to prevent image-based abuse based on information collected and reported from front-line services.
Essential Provision
- Government consultation undertaken to understand the specific issues being experienced by victims of image-based abuse, including those that may not be covered by current legislation.
Industry
Image Based Abuse Model Policies - Common policy alignment and adoption recognising Image Based Abuse as unacceptable
Outcomes
- The industry can identify and mitigate the impact of IIA on their users and identify opportunities to support the advancement of victims' rights.
Best Practice
- Industry should appoint an individual or team responsible for IIA, including development of IIA policy and reporting and takedown procedures. Where possible, these should be in line with global best practice examples. The team should also be responsible for identifying attributes, behaviours, and features of IIA to reduce its spread through their industry.
- Those responsible for IIA should participate in internal and external engagement activities with key stakeholders, including victims and victim support.
Essential Provision
- Industry should have a reporting interface and make use of a moderation team responding to reports.
Country Specific Examples
Image Based Abuse Model Policies - Common Policy Alignment and Adoption
Outcomes
- Develop and research a system for receiving reports and detecting, informing, and taking down known instances of IIA online.
Best Practice
- Collaborate with the government, law enforcement, and civil society to identify and remove IIA content, and make public reports available for review.
- Advocate for changes to national regulations when needed to protect victims and align with international best practices.
Essential Provision
- Conduct an initial audit of existing processes and adopt effective practices from other sectors.
- Respond to requests from other organisations such as police and third sector and provide high-level information in response.
Innovation - development and implementation of innovative solutions that identify, remove and prevent image-based abuse
Outcomes
- Researching, sharing and advising on new technological solutions and strategies to combat IIA.
Best Practice
- Industry advises on best practice technological solutions to a wide variety of stakeholders with the intention of benefiting victims of IIA. Industry partners provide access to appropriate information to improve transparency and reporting on IIA. Industry regularly contributes to scientific research, knowledge and understanding into IIA. Agility and innovation in responding to IIA is encouraged and supported by industry.
Essential Provision
- Implement StopNCII.
Country Sepecific Examples
Corporate Social Responsibility - Effective Image-Based Abuse focused program
Outcomes
- Implementing, supporting, and developing new and recognised, active awareness-raising programs for prevention and education of IIA to the public.
- Supporting and advising on the implementation of the national IIA (IIA) declaration.
Best Practice
- Industry takes an active role in awareness and education programs, develops online content to educate users and financially supports regional and national awareness-raising campaigns about IIA. Industry ensures that victims and victim support organisations know how to report IIA and provides support for such reporting.
- Organise, implement, and promote an annual national awareness day that focuses on victim support, reporting routines, legislation and policy related to IIA.
Essential Provision
- Engage and partner with third sector organisations to develop expertise and effectiveness in this area.
- Commit to the declaration on public-facing communications. Engage and partner with third sector organisations to develop expertise and effectiveness in this area.
Country Specific Examples
Media and Communications
National Awareness Programme - Raising Awareness of IIA and Response
Outcomes
- A recurring national communication program that demonstrates an increase in public awareness and response towards IIA.
Best Practice
- Engage with media, government, police, associated partners, stakeholders, and industry to disseminate the awareness program both offline and online with accessible and clear communication.
- Encourage and support continued dissemination of IIA awareness throughout the year.
Essential Provision
- Correct information about victim support, reporting routines, legislation, and policy is publicly accessible both offline and online.
Universal Terminology - Guidelines and Application Adult Online Harm wording
Outcomes
- Universal terminology to be used consistently in internal and external communication related to IIA.
Best Practice
- Apply consistent use of universal terminology in all communication activities related to IIA, whether offline or online.
- Terminology aligns with legislation and policy wording, as well as published definitions within the context of IIA.
- Raise public awareness and understanding of the correct language through national programs and associated communication activities.
Essential Provision
- Publish terminology definitions that align with legislation and policy wording.
- Show evidence of applying the correct terminology in all disseminated information related to IIA.
Country Specific Examples
Society and Education
Education Program: Creating Sustainability through Financial Support and Stakeholder Engagement
Outcomes
- Capable and confident adults who can support children and young people in navigating online environments safely and securely.
- Improved adult resilience and capability within wider society.
- Recognition, support, and reduction of the impact of online harms on oneself and others.
Best Practice
- A fully resourced and supported adult online literacy framework that is tailored to individual needs.
- Ongoing stakeholder engagement and collaboration with government, educational institutions, and civil society to ensure the program's sustainability and effectiveness.
- Regular evaluation and adaptation of the program to address emerging challenges and changing needs.
Essential Provision
- Publicly funded research to identify gaps in knowledge in adult populations related to online safety.
- State-led media literacy and online education strategies to promote safe and responsible online behaviour among adults and children.
Vulnerable User Education - Create adapted version of adult education programme to suit the needs of vulnerable groups, such as illiteracy, educational needs, language barriers, mental health issues, and more
Outcomes
- Reduced risks to vulnerable adults.
- Recognition and involvement of vulnerable adults in every programme delivered to adult communities.
Best Practice
- State-funded intervention programmes that are widely advertised and available, with easy-to-access resources.
Essential Provision
- Publicly funded research to help understand the gaps in knowledge in adult populations.
- State-led media literacy/online education strategies.
Country Specific Examples
Directory of Support Services for Victims of Online Harassment and Abuse
Outcomes
- A government-hosted directory of support services that is easy to navigate, regularly updated, and readily available to citizens.
Best Practice
- Create a state-funded online directory of support services that is effectively advertised, easy to navigate, and regularly updated.
- Ensure that the directory includes a wide range of support services, such as legal services, counselling, and advocacy groups.
- Advertise the directory through various channels, such as social media, government websites, and community centres.
- Regularly update the directory to ensure that it provides the most up-to-date information on available support services.
Essential Provision
- Host an online site providing a list of support services currently available.
- Ensure that the site is easy to navigate and regularly updated.
Country Specific Examples