At the Revenge Porn Helpline, we are increasingly growing concerned about material that includes the drugging and filming of individuals who in many cases are also being sexually assaulted.
In these cases, victims may have been incapacitated, unconscious and unaware they were being subjected to sexual violence which is being filmed. The resulting images and videos are then uploaded and shared online.
The Problem with Uncertainty
While cases involving drugging and covert filming continue to remain significantly underreported, we believe they represent only a fraction of the true scale of the problem. Survivors of drug-facilitated sexual offending often face unique barriers to disclosure which may include memory loss, uncertainty about the full extent of the abuse, fear of not being believed and concerns about public exposure.
Where Current Laws Fall Short
The UK has taken important steps to strengthen protections against intimate image abuse in recent years. Reforms have expanded offences relating to the sharing of intimate images and introduced protections against the creation of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes.
However, the law still struggles to address cases where sexual violence and online abuse overlap. Survivors can find themselves navigating multiple legal frameworks at once, including sexual offence legislation, image-based abuse laws and platform community standards. The process is often confusing, slow and emotionally exhausting.
The Need for Faster Takedowns
One of the biggest challenges is speed. Abusive material can be uploaded and viewed in a matter of seconds and the longer the content remains active, the higher the risk of it being shared more widely. In contrast, removal efforts often depend on lengthy reporting processes involving websites, platforms and law enforcement agencies.
Survivors need access to faster and more effective routes for removing non-consensual recordings from the internet. It should not be viewed as a secondary issue, it should be the most urgent form of protection available.
Holding Platforms to Account
Technology platforms also have a critical role to play. Websites that host or facilitate the sharing of intimate content should be expected to maintain robust systems for detecting, removing and preventing the re-upload of material depicting abuse, exploitation or non-consensual activity.
Too often, the burden falls on victims themselves to locate content, report it repeatedly and monitor its reappearance across different sites and services. That responsibility cannot rest solely with those who have already been harmed.
A Call for Stronger Legal Protections
Victims of drugging, covert filming and sexual exploitation deserve a system that recognises the full extent of the harm they experience. The law should reflect the reality that abuse can continue for many years. In the digital age, it can be recorded, preserved and repeatedly inflicted through online distribution.
Stronger laws, faster takedown mechanisms, greater platform accountability and improved support for victims are all essential parts of the solution. Someone who has been drugged, incapacitated, unaware they are being filmed, or subjected to sexual violence has not consented to becoming part of an online ecosystem that profits from their abuse.
As this form of harm becomes increasingly visible, policymakers must ensure that legal protections fully reflect its seriousness. If you are concerned about intimate image abuse, you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for support.
