People whose intimate images are shared online without their consent could win anonymity in U.K. courts, like other sexual abuse victims, under a government-backed review of "revenge porn" laws launched Wednesday.
Sharing private sexual photos or videos without consent became a crime in 2015, with a maximum sentence of two years in prison. Most victims are women, often targeted by former partners seeking to extort or humiliate them.
"Taking, making and sharing intimate images without consent causes distress and can ruin lives," said David Ormerod, a criminal law commissioner with the independent Law Commission, which is carrying out the review, in a statement.