Sharing intimate images with intent to harm could carry a seven-year prison sentence

SHARING INTIMATE IMAGES of another person without their consent, even without the intention of causing harm, could result in a € 5,000 fine and 12 months in prison under proposals being presented to Cabinet this week.

It is understood that the Minister of Justice, Helen McEntee, will seek Cabinet approval tomorrow for new crimes to address the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

The move comes just a couple of days after the Gardaí confirmed that they are investigating the uploading of images and videos of Irish women and girls, without their consent, to various online forums.

It is understood that some of the images and footage are of minors.

Victims Alliance, an advocacy group, said tens of thousands of images have been shared across various online platforms.

Last week, the minister said in the Dáil that anyone who shares intimate images of a person without their consent “will face serious criminal penalties.”

According to the minister’s proposals, the first offense will refer to the distribution or publication of intimate images without consent and with the intention of causing harm.

It is intended to impose a maximum penalty of unlimited fine and / or seven years in prison.

The second offense will deal with the taking, distribution or publication of intimate images without consent without the requirement that the person intended to cause harm to the victim of the offense.

This crime is intended to carry a maximum penalty of 5,000 euros in fine and / or 12 months in prison.

It is understood that the fact that the person has consented to the taking of an image will be irrelevant if it is subsequently published or distributed without their consent.

The bill does not specify the types of technology that can be used to commit crimes and is intentionally neutral to cover all forms of online and offline communications that cause harm to a victim.

It will also be an aggravating factor for the purposes of the sentence if the perpetrator has or had an intimate relationship with the victim of the crime.

The new measures will be included in amendments to the bill on harassment, harmful communications and other related crimes.

An update to harassment legislation will also broaden the scope of the crime of harassment to cover consistent communications to or about a person, not just indecent images, and will increase the sentence from seven to ten years to reflect the harm that can be caused by most people. serious forms of harassment.

The maximum penalty will be increased from seven to 10 years to reflect the harm caused by the most serious forms of harassment.

McEntee is believed to have worked closely with Brendan Howlin of the Labor Party, who introduced the bill last Dail.

The government will seek to enact the bill as a priority, and the minister will declare that she appreciates the support of all parties for the bill, which she wants to see “enacted as soon as possible.”

The bill is scheduled for committee stage in the Dail on December 1.