In our latest article, as part of our ongoing celebration around International Women’s Day, we’re hearing from Sara-Jayne Gilchrist. As Assistant StopNCII Partnership Manager, Sara-Jayne, understands the impact of non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse and how, through collaborative efforts, StopNCII.org has become a leading global initiative, allowing adults across the world to prevent their intimate images from being shared online.
Interview With Sara-Jayne Gilchrist
Firstly, thank you for joining us to provide insights into StopNCII.org and how the initiative prioritises collaboration to support best practices. Following International Women’s Day in March, SWGfL and the Revenge Porn Helpline have been exploring how intimate image abuse disproportionately affects women. Through your work on StopNCII.org, how do you think this tool can help protect women around the world?
"StopNCII.org is the world’s first on-device hashing technology designed specifically to prevent the sharing of non-consensual intimate images. One of the most important aspects of the tool is that it never collects or stores images or videos; all hashing happens entirely on a user’s device. This means victims/survivors are not asked to upload intimate content to another platform, removing a major barrier to seeking help and ensuring their privacy remains fully protected.
For women, who are disproportionately impacted by intimate image abuse, this approach is incredibly empowering. StopNCII.org gives them a way to take back control at a moment when they often feel powerless. It allows them to decide what happens next with their images and draws a clear line between consent and misuse.
From the Partnerships Team's perspective, we hope that even more technology companies adopt StopNCII.org’s hashing technology. As more platforms come on board, we strengthen a global, collaborative response to NCII, giving women worldwide greater protection and a meaningful layer of prevention before harm can occur."
Collaboration was a key part of this year’s International Women’s Day theme. In your role, you understand the importance of partnerships and cross-sector engagement. How do you think these partnerships have helped advance StopNCII.org?
"Collaboration sits at the heart of StopNCII.org, and the initiative simply wouldn’t be possible without strong, trusted partnerships. Because intimate image abuse affects women disproportionately, organisations must come together to create solutions that are victim/survivor focused and grounded in safety, and privacy.
Through our partnerships, we’ve been able to bring a range of expertise to the table: technical knowledge, safeguarding experience, victim/survivor advocacy, and operational support. This shared commitment allows us to refine the technology and ensure that StopNCII.org remains both effective and accessible for those who need it most.
Working collaboratively has also helped us expand our reach. Industry partners, supporters, NGOs, and global safety organisations all play a key role in raising awareness and embedding StopNCII.org into their wider online safety frameworks. This collective effort strengthens prevention on a global scale, ensuring that more women have access to tools that can help protect them before harm occurs.
Ultimately, StopNCII.org has progressed as far as it has because of a shared vision: preventing intimate image abuse and empowering victims/survivors. Partnerships allow us not only to maintain that vision, but to continue building on it with real impact."
StopNCII.org relies on industry partners adopting its hashing technology. How would you encourage companies to join StopNCII.org as industry partners?
"Encouraging companies to join StopNCII.org starts with helping them understand the impact they can have. By adopting the hashing technology, organisations have the opportunity to actively prevent non-consensual intimate image abuse on their platforms before the harm happens. For many companies, this aligns directly with their safety commitments, their terms of service prohibiting harmful or non-consensual content, and their responsibility to protect users, particularly women. Integrating StopNCII.org’s hashing into existing content moderation strategies and workflows also strengthens a platform’s overall safety ecosystem, allowing moderation teams to detect and block harmful content more efficiently and proactively.
Partnership is also an opportunity for organisations to contribute towards a global, collaborative initiative. The more companies that participate, the more comprehensive and effective the safety net becomes, creating a shared standard across the digital ecosystem.
In encouraging companies to join, I would highlight not only the technological benefits, but also the message it sends: that they stand with victims and survivors, value user safety, and are committed to preventing harm before it occurs."
In 2026, StopNCII.org will mark its fifth anniversary. Why do you think it has become such an important and cornerstone initiative?
"As StopNCII.org reaches its fifth anniversary, it’s a moment that fills me with gratitude and an even stronger drive to continue innovating, strengthening partnerships, and championing the project’s mission through my work. Over the past five years, this initiative has become a cornerstone in the fight against NCII abuse because it offers something genuinely unique: a safe, privacy-preserving, victim/survivor-centred means for people (particularly women) to regain control over their intimate content.
I believe StopNCII.org has earned its strong reputation because it consistently places victims and survivors at the centre of every decision, design choice, and partnership. This commitment to dignity, safety, and empowerment has allowed the initiative to build trust and deliver real impact on a global scale.
Reaching this five-year milestone is not only something to be proud of, but also a reminder of the ongoing responsibility we hold. Being part of the Partnerships Team on StopNCII.org continually motivates me to support victims/survivors and advocate for wider industry collaboration, so we can extend protection even further. The initiative’s success reflects a collective belief that prevention is possible, and that every person deserves control over their own image."
Learn More About StopNCII.org
StopNCII.org has become an established solution, with its influence continuing to grow following recent developments. SWGfL remains committed to supporting the long-term development of the tool and encourages industry and technology platforms to become participating partners. As Sara-Jayne highlights, the more comprehensive the solution becomes, the more effective prevention and protection against NCII abuse will be.
To learn more about our work exploring the impact of online harm on women and girls, please read our article. You can also find out more about StopNCII.org, or contact the Partnerships Team to learn how to contribute to global efforts as a partner.
