The UK government is moving to hold technology leaders personally accountable for the presence of “revenge porn” on their platforms. New legislative proposals aim to shift the burden of responsibility from the corporation to the individual, introducing the possibility of imprisonment and heavy fines for executives who fail to comply with content removal orders.
Personal Liability for Tech Leadership
Under a proposed amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, senior tech executives could face criminal liability if their companies fail to act on enforcement decisions made by Ofcom.
The key details of the proposal include:
– Direct Accountability: If a platform fails to remove reported non-consensual intimate images without a “reasonable excuse,” the bosses themselves could be held liable.
– Strict Timelines: The government has previously mandated that platforms must remove such content within 48 hours of it being reported.
– Enforcement via Ofcom: The regulator, Ofcom, will serve as the primary authority for deciding whether a company has complied with its legal obligations.
This shift is significant because it pierces the “corporate veil.” Historically, companies faced fines for misconduct, but individual executives were rarely personally targeted. By introducing criminal penalties, the government is signaling that online safety is a fundamental legal responsibility, not just a corporate compliance issue.
Expanding the Ban on Harmful Pornography
In tandem with the crackdown on revenge porn, the government is introducing stricter bans on specific types of illegal pornography. These measures aim to prevent the normalization of sexual violence and abuse through digital media.
The new regulations will criminalize the possession and publication of:
– Incestuous content: Pornography depicting sexual conduct between family members.
– Roleplay of illegal acts: Content depicting adults roleplaying as children or involving step/foster relations where one party is pretending to be a minor.
The Ministry of Justice has characterized this content as “revolting,” warning that its availability online risks normalizing child sexual abuse. Those found guilty of publishing this material could face two to five years in prison.
The Broader Context: Combatting Digital Violence
These legislative moves are part of a wider, multi-year effort to combat misogyny and violence against women and girls in the digital sphere. This follows previous actions, such as the criminalization of pornography depicting women being choked—a move prompted by findings that such imagery was being used to establish harmful sexual norms.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized that the government’s stance is “uncompromising,” noting that the unauthorized sharing of intimate images has “shattered” many lives.
“Protecting women and girls online is not optional; it is a responsibility that sits squarely with every tech company’s leadership,” stated Ms. Kendall.
Summary
The UK government is significantly raising the stakes for tech companies by introducing criminal penalties for executives who fail to remove non-consensual intimate images. By targeting leadership directly and expanding bans on illegal pornographic content, the state aims to curb the spread of harmful digital content and hold platforms strictly accountable for the safety of their users.
