Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Conclusion 12
4th Report – Tackling non-consensual intimate image abuse
Published 5 Mar 2025
Addressed to Government Equalities Office
Women and Equalities Committee Tackling non-consensual intimate image abuse All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
There is a gap in the UK’s online regulatory framework for a statutory body to support and champion the rights of individuals affected by non- consensual intimate image abuse, and to work alongside the courts in the civil regime. Such a body is required to help ensure victims are able to secure redress and to oversee the registry of NCII content that we recommend is introduced. Ofcom’s remit is already very wide, and its enforcement mechanisms are designed to act at too a high level for this function - it is ill-suited to the further responsibilities that are required. Existing Commissions, such as the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, do not have the powers or expertise to fulfil such a role. (Conclusion, Paragraph 75)
From: Women and Equalities Committee, 4th Report – Tackling non-consensual intimate image abuse (HC 336), 5 March 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 20 May 2025 (deadline 5 May 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government gives a mixed response, rejecting a majority of the recommendations while accepting some in full or in part and pointing to existing provisions and the forthcoming VAWG Strategy.
- On the Revenge Porn Helpline, it records "Partial acceptance" and is providing £300,000 for 2025/26 (up from £210,000), with funding beyond that "determined through the Spring Spending Review".
- It rejects bringing online sexual offences and NCII within the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, saying this would "fundamentally alter the purpose of the Scheme".
- It rejects a statutory civil process, citing "little evidence" about the British Columbia model and overlap with existing routes, but says it "will consider this further" in developing the VAWG Strategy.
- It accepts the recommendation on nudification apps, saying it is "actively looking at options" and "will update the Committee on this in due course".