SWGfL welcomes the Government’s recent announcement to strengthen and improve responses towards non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse, recognising StopNCII as a crucial partner within the new amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill . At the heart of these changes is a development we have long called for: the inclusion of a statutory Non-Consensual Intimate Image Register (NCII Register). SWGfL are delighted to be supporting the Governments work to achieve the ‘one and done’ ambition to effectively support victims of NCII, working in tandem with the recent 48-hour takedown notice on NCII content.
Meaningful Progress
We are pleased to see that the Government has acknowledged that a statutory NCII Register is essential to protect victims of intimate image abuse. We recognise the progress that has been made and acknowledge the steps that have been taken since last year to deliver amendments that carry meaningful change.
For years, the survivors we support to recover from this devastating harm have faced an exhausting and often traumatic process repeatedly reporting the same content as it reappears across platforms, with reporting processes sometimes spanning years. This much-needed amendment signals a shift towards preventing harm before it can happen again, rather than relying solely on slow, reactive takedowns.
What is a Statutory NCII Register?
The proposed register would act as a secure database of digital fingerprints (known as hashes) of NCII images (not the images themselves).
This means:
- When an image is reported and verified as being NCII, its unique hash is added to the Register.
- Platforms can then automatically detect and block that same image if someone tries to upload it again. There is the potential for platforms to remove existing content which is already published as well.
- Victims are spared from having to repeatedly report the same content as and when they become aware of it. This avoids re-victimisation and re-traumatisation.
This approach is already proven to work through our StopNCII.org tool which allows any adult in the world to protect their images without having to upload them. For more information on the NCII register, you can read our full breakdown here.
The move to make this a statutory requirement (i.e. embedded in law) will be a transformative move. It creates a consistent, system-wide response rather than relying on voluntary action from platforms and makes solution such as StopNCII.org a necessity rather than a voluntary want.
Supporting Government with Proven Solutions
SWGfL stands ready to support the Government in delivering this ambition. StopNCII.org provides the strong and practical foundation for the proposed Register to thrive. Its privacy-first design, global reach, and victim-centred approach demonstrates how such a system can operate effectively at scale. We are committed to working alongside policymakers, regulators, and industry to ensure the Register is effective.
What Does This Mean for Victims?
When the legislation is passed in Parliament and implemented effectively, this means:
- Reduced reporting – the volume of reporting the same image across multiple platforms will be significantly reduced. If verified and included on the register, it will be removed automatically from compliant sites.
- Faster protection - images would be blocked before they spread further, marking a significant step towards responding to harm before it escalates.
- Greater control – the Register would empower victims to feel better protected online.
- Limited re-victimisation – when victims are protected by a system that does not force them to constantly re-report or allows for re-upload of the same nonconsensual media
Alongside other amendments, including the 48-hour takedown requirement, clearer reporting routes, and mandatory deletion orders, this signals a broader shift towards a victim-centred system that prioritises user safety.
Operation and Enforcement
While this announcement is hugely positive, further detail is still needed on how the statutory register will be implemented, operated in practice and most importantly, enforced. Key questions remain around governance, oversight, implementation and how to ensure protections are communicated effectively towards the public as well as how non-compliant sites will be handled. We would welcome a really unequivocal message from Government about what is expected from platforms and what will happen if they fall short of this.
SWGfL is keen to continue engaging with Government to help shape these details and ensure that the proposed system works effectively for those it is designed to protect. We now look ahead to this proposal being debated in the House of Lords, and we remain hopeful that it will progress swiftly towards Royal Assent.
A Turning Point
These amendments represent one of the most comprehensive efforts to date in how the UK tackles intimate image abuse at scale. The inclusion of a statutory NCII Register is a critical turning point that will lead towards stronger protections for individuals and, if done right, will reinforce a framework that can be adopted across a global scale.
David Wright CBE CEO of SWGfL said: “Through our work with StopNCII.org and the Revenge Porn Helpline, our priority has always been to support those experiencing intimate image abuse. The Government’s decision to introduce a statutory NCII Register is a hugely important step forward, and we are delighted to see this acknowledgement and change in direction.
Through StopNCII.org, we have already seen the real-world impact that proactive, preventative technology can have in stopping the spread of intimate images. Embedding this approach in law has the potential to completely transform how we respond to this abuse at scale.
However, it is vital that the detail behind this proposal is carefully developed to ensure it is practical and truly victim centred. We are ready to support the Government in this next phase and look forward to seeing these measures progress through Parliament.”
