Revenge Porn
Revenge pornography or pornographic disclosure
Victim of revenge porn? Contact 3018!
3018 is the number for young victims of digital harassment and violence, such as revenge porn.
What is revenge porn?
The revenge pornography or the revenge pornography consists of taking revenge on someone by making pornographic content featuring them public, with the clear aim of humiliating them by exposing their private life. This content may be produced with or without the consent of the person concerned, but is disseminated without their consent. This practice includes both photographs and the videos that the private sexual remarks.
This phenomenon often results from a romantic break-up that is difficult for one of the two parties to cope with. It is linked to the practice of «sexting» (a contraction of sex and texting, referring to the exchange of sexual content via text message or instant messaging), which is common among young people.
What does the law say about revenge porn?
Since 2016, the revenge pornography is considered to be a offence by the Criminal Code. Indeed, Article 226-2-1 of the Criminal Code has reinforced the penalties incurred in specific cases of dissemination of sexual content.
It stipulates that: «Where the offences referred to in Articles 226-1 and 226-2 relate to words or images of a sexual nature taken in a public or private place, the penalties shall be increased to two years' imprisonment and a fine of €60,000.
The same penalties shall apply to the act of bringing to the attention of the public or a third party any recording or document containing words or images of a sexual nature, obtained with the express or presumed consent of the person or by the person themselves, using one of the acts provided for in Article 226-1, without the person's consent to its dissemination.»
The sexual nature of the content is therefore considered to be a aggravating circumstance, since the penalty incurred in this context ranges from one to two years' imprisonment and a fine of €45,000 to €60,000.
How can you prevent the risks of revenge porn?
Be aware that sending nude photos among teenagers is common. It is better to give them some tips on how to protect themselves from risks they are unaware of than to fight against the practice itself.
- Make them accountable for the nature of the content they share: Sharing intimate or sexual content carries risks: once sent, the content no longer belongs to us. Beware of malicious individuals who might make use of it!
- Help him assess risk-taking: Ask them if they would be embarrassed to display the content in question in public, for example. If so, it may be that the content could cause them embarrassment. cause harm once broadcast.
- Give some common-sense advice: do not send intimate images in which you can be identified : do not show your face, any distinctive features (tattoos, piercings), or particular surroundings, and reserve this type of exchange for relationships with confidence and long term.
It is important to note that this type of practice can be classified as child pornography if the person depicted in the content is a minor.
What should I do if I witness a case of revenge porn?
If your child or loved one is a victim of revenge porn, here are some steps to take:
- Engage in dialogue! He or she will probably be embarrassed to talk to you about it. Be alert to any changes in behaviour that might suggest there is a problem. Bring up the subject to encourage them to confide in you.
- Stop feeling guilty! He or she will feel guilty for having sent sexual content in the first place. Remind them that the guilty party is the perpetrator of the offence, the person who disseminated the content without their consent.
- Take action:
- Keep evidence: take screenshots.
- Report online to the relevant website/social network/platform to alert them and stop the dissemination of compromising images or comments. 3018 can assist you with this, as it has a priority and accelerated reporting procedure with social networks to have content removed within a few hours. You can contact 3018 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Block the sender of the message.
- Notify the school if the incident occurred with a classmate.
- File a complaint at the police station or gendarmerie.
To go further
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Bullying, cyberbullying, revenge porn, webcam blackmail, identity theft, gender-based and sexual violence, exposure to violent and pornographic content, etc., and all issues related to usage (video games, parental controls, account settings, overexposure to screens).
