Friday 18 July 2014

Read My Lips…. No. More. LAWS!

Publishing sexually explicit pictures of former partners – known as "revenge pornography" – could soon become a crime, the justice secretary has said.


Chris Grayling said the government was very open to having a serious discussion about the practice with a view to taking appropriate action when parliament returns from the summer recess.
Then clearly, government has too much time on its hands. Time that could be better spent elsewhere.
The former culture secretary Maria Miller has called for a change in the law to tackle the "appalling" practice, suggesting the criminal justice and courts bill, currently being considered by parliament, could be the vehicle for it.

The Liberal Democrats have also called for legislation. An early day motion by the Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert tabled this week noted that "whilst the images are often taken with full consent, their dissemination is not".
So, it seems the issue is rather simple - if you don’t want pictures of you making the beast with two backs with your ex hitting the net, then: a) make sure you remain on good terms with your ex (maybe even vet the men/women you sleep with rather carefully, if that’s not too much trouble), or b) don’t take such pictures in the first place.

This has been a Public Service Announcement.

10 comments:

Dioclese said...

When you said 'no more laws' I hoped for one minute you were referring to David Laws the Limp Dump arse who was kicked out and has now been sneaked back in.

In my book, MPs should only get on chance. Especially ministers...

Robert the Biker said...

Yes, I can just see the chavs and femiloons jumping into this one
"They've got a picture of me innit" and the whole battalion of shysters and ambulance chasers getting in on the act. How, after all, do you prove you don't have said picture, or it wasn't you put it out on the net.

Joe Public said...

And even if the nice-but-naughty pics aren't 'published', just remember:-

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/17/snowden_says_analysts_swapping_sexts_at_nsa_seen_as_a_fringe_benefit/

Mr. Morden said...

Clearly they have even more to hide that just a spot of kiddy-fiddling.

microdave said...

Unfortunately it's getting easier and easier to take surreptitious pictures, and make video or audio recordings these days. Short of carrying out a forensic sweep of the area before each "nookie" session, how can you be sure that intimate details won't get out?

Mark In Mayenne said...

Presumably it will remain legal to send the video by email to your ex's new partner?

ivan said...

Julia, how dare you use common sense to solve the problem? You know the politicians think they have to be seen to be doing something otherwise the public might start asking why are they costing so much.

Anonymous said...

Ian,
What have you got against pigs?
Penseivat

Ian B said...

I really don't understand what the problem is. It's like posting a photo of your ex on the loo. Okay, it's a bit embarrassing because of our nudity and toilet stuff taboos, but what have you shown the world? That they defecate, like everybody else in the world does? So what?

Likewise, everyone has sex. Or nearly everybody. Why is it even revenge to show photographic evidence of this mundane thing? What is the actual problem here?

"And now, as revenge, I will show the world that my ex and I did, indeed, have sexual intercourse! That'll learn 'em!".

JuliaM said...

@Robert the Biker: if only the police had the courage to stop taking this seriously...

@microdave: I'm waiting for so done to propose RIPA should be extended to cover it ...

@Ian Hills: I'd have a go, but I lack the techie skills. Also, I have a weak stomach!