When Jane discovered that intimate photos of her had been shared online without her consent, she sought assistance from law enforcement but encountered an unsupportive response. Instead of receiving help, she was cautioned that attempting to track where her images were posted could expose her to legal risks. After being provided with an internet safety leaflet and advised to approach technology companies—who were described as unlikely to offer effective help—the police closed the case. Jane, a pseudonym, recalled that officers contacted her at inconvenient times and handled the matter insensitively, with what she described as victim-blaming and misogynistic attitudes.
Jane’s experience began when her accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat were hacked, along with those of several other women. Private messages were breached, and images taken from these conversations were posted publicly. On the platform where the images appeared, users left derogatory remarks, while one stranger used identifying information such as names of acquaintances and schools, alongside links to other social media accounts, to contact Jane directly. She reported feeling exposed, harassed, and stalked by an anonymous online community. The ordeal left her feeling violated and unsafe, leading her to limit her online presence and withdraw from many digital spaces.
A recent report from Refuge and End Violence Against Women highlights that for many women, exposure to online abuse, harassment, and misogynistic content has become an “accepted risk” of participating in internet spaces. This persists despite voluntary guidelines introduced by Ofcom—a UK communications regulator—a year ago aimed at encouraging tech firms to address violence against women and girls online.
Frustrated by the handling of her case, Jane retained the law firm Leigh Day to challenge Ofcom to launch a formal investigation into the platforms involved and to push the police to reopen the criminal inquiry. One challenge in prosecuting such cases is the global nature of the perpetrators, who often use methods to conceal their IP addresses and locations. Jane emphasized that such obstacles would be met with more urgency in cases involving other serious crimes such as terrorism.
The report surveyed 2,000 women, finding that most did not report abuse to either online platforms or law enforcement. Among those who did, many felt their complaints were misunderstood, dismissed, or met with advice to change their behavior rather than with decisive action. According to the findings, 17% of women who reported online abuse to police said their cases were not investigated. Among women aged 16 to 24, 47% had experienced online violence, with one in four reporting misogyny or sexual violence. Additionally, one in five had faced stalking, harassment, or image-based abuse.
Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, acknowledged Ofcom’s guidance as a positive development but called for stronger legal measures. She urged that technology companies be held accountable for addressing the normalization of misogyny, ensuring perpetrators face consequences, and improving safety for all women and survivors.
An Ofcom spokesperson stated that addressing the disproportionate harms faced by women and girls online remains a priority. They affirmed that the law requires tech firms to remove illegal content—including harassment, stalking, violent threats, and abuse—once identified. The spokesperson added that Ofcom is intensifying efforts to prevent the spread of illegal intimate images and is updating regulatory codes to enforce faster content takedown timelines.