Today is the sixth Non-Bullying Day. This year, the Department for Education has chosen to focus on preventing non-consensual sexting and revenge porn.
Discover the video clip for the 2018 No to Bullying campaign:
What is revenge porn or non-consensual sexting?
A photo is personal, sharing it is harassment! Non-consensual sexting or revenge porn is sharing sexual images of a person without their consent. This can have dramatic consequences for the victim.
Distribution of non-consensual sexting: «Those responsible are the ones who (re)share and make nasty comments!» by Aurélie Latourès, from the Hubertine Auclert Centre
«What is unacceptable and reprehensible in the clip broadcast on 8 November 2018 is the use that was made of these images: namely, both their dissemination without consent and the associated sharing and degrading or humiliating comments, which can contribute to spreading rumours. Rather than blaming the girls for this content, it is important to place the responsibility on the broadcaster and those who shared it: broadcasting content without the person's consent is an invasion of privacy, and spreading rumours and insults can have serious consequences for the victims. Consent is also important online! Consent is the voluntary agreement that a person gives when participating in an activity. Online, everything happens very quickly with a single click, often forgetting consent! It is important that everyone remains free to express themselves without fear, but also free to maintain their privacy and dignity. Sharing a photo or video without the person's consent is a violation of their rights and freedom: the law condemns such acts.»
What does the law say about revenge porn?
Article 67 of the Law of 7 March 2016 for a Digital Republic (known as the Lemaire Law) expanded the Criminal Code by creating, under Articles 226-1 and 226-2 (offence of wilful invasion of privacy by transmitting private conversations or by capturing and disseminating images), a new Article 226-2-1 which strengthens criminal penalties in specific cases involving sexual content.
Thus, the sexual nature of the content is an aggravating circumstance, since the offence carries a sentence of one to two years' imprisonment and a fine of €45,000 to €60,000.
Key point: The law punishes the offence of «revenge porn» regardless of whether the person consented to the initial recording of the video or images. The mere fact that the distribution, particularly on the Internet, takes place without the person's consent is sufficient.
How should one respond when one is a victim?
1 – Keep evidence
2 – Report content
How to report on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube)
3 – Call Net écoute
NET ÉCOUTE TOLL-FREE NUMBER: 3018
Free, anonymous, confidential, and open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
