Source: UK Safer Internet Centre published on this site Tuesday 5 November 2024 by Jill Powell
The UK Safer Internet Centre has published a new report examining sextortion cases on SWGfL’s Revenge Porn Helpline from August 2022 to August 2024. Based on the experiences of 127 victims who contacted the helpline, the report reveals the significant psychological toll of sextortion, barriers to justice, and the urgent need for preventative action across social, legal, and digital sectors.
The latest sextortion report comes after the UK Safer Internet Centre hosted a roundtable event in London to explore its findings, and the key trends related to financial sextortion. The event was attended by a variety of organisations and industry partners to understand how attendees were responding to the challenges sextortion presents and provide solutions for going forward.
Key Findings
The Sextortion Report reveals that the majority of sextortion victims contacting the helpline were young men, with 85% of victims identifying as male and 64% aged 18–34. Perpetrators were found to typically initiate contact on social media and dating platforms, before jumping between platforms after initial contact, with the majority of content (92%) being shared on social media platforms. The report highlights that this “cross-platform behaviour” exploits the specific functions of each platform, as offenders jump between services to avoid detection and intimidate victims.
Psychological Impact
The report highlights the substantial distress caused by sextortion, often leaving victims in a prolonged state of “uncertainty and anxiety” about whether their intimate content has been shared publicly. While 22% of victims confirmed that their images had indeed been shared, a concerning 54% were unsure, which increases their ongoing fear and emotional distress. Experiences shared by victims revealed feelings of isolation, helplessness, and, in some instances, hesitation to report the crime due to a perceived lack of support from law enforcement.
Challenges with Law Enforcement
Victims often described their experience with law enforcement as unhelpful, with only 24% reporting any follow-up by police. Just one perpetrator was convicted among 127 cases, with the report emphasising that law enforcement efforts are frequently obstructed by “cross-border cooperation issues,” as sextortion rings are often based outside the UK.
Recommendations for Action
The UK Safer Internet Centre’s Sextortion Report provides recommendations and calls for immediate action across various sectors to combat the rising rate of sextortion cases, emphasising the next steps and priorities that government, education, industry, police, and civil society can take.
Learn more about the key findings and recommendations from the Sextortion Report by downloading the report here.
