Alternative ‘intimate’ realities: Inclusive ways of framing intimate image based abuse (IIBA)

Intimate image abuse, nonconsensual capture and sharing of intimate images, is a phenomenon that has been a growing concern in recent years. Motivated by the demands from victims/survivors of intimate image abuse, governments and tech companies are increasingly focusing their efforts on tackling the issue at national and regional levels through several law proposals that predominantly focus on criminal justice-based solutions. Intimate image abuse is not new; however, recent technologies and the availability of the internet create the optimum conditions for IIBA to happen, especially in the absence of adequate and rights-affirming regulations and the unwillingness to address broader structural issues causing this problem.

Currently, intimate image abuse is predominantly understood and discussed as the nonconsensual capture and sharing of sexual images. This is appropriate as, in some cultural contexts, sexuality and body are regarded as profoundly intimate, and any act that involves sexuality and body is expected to be private by many unless explicit consent is given, for example, in the context of porn and generally sex work. While there is no question about the severity of the nonconsensual capture and sharing of sexual images, this session will examine alternative ways to define intimate image abuse outside of the context of sexual images to create a more inclusive debate that centres on the needs of marginalised communities.

Moderator:

  • Luca Stevenson – ESWA

Speakers:

  • Anastasia Karagianni – DATAWO
  • Yigit Aydinalp – ESWA