Bumble, the women-first dating app, is collaborating with UN Women UK to advocate for the protection of victims of cyberflashing in a more meaningful manner through consent-based legislation.
Cyberflashing involves the sending of unsolicited images or video recordings of genitals without consent.
Although the UK government has included a proposal for legislation to criminalize cyberflashing in its Online Safety Bill, the legislation is based on intent, which is hard to prove. Moreover, the proposal protects people who send unsolicited sexual pictures as a joke or prank.
Bumble, UN Women UK, and experts are now calling for a consent-based approach to protect victims, who are disproportionately women.
Recent research shows that almost half of 18-24-year-olds in the UK have received a sexual photo they did not consent to, and women receive these photos even during mundane activities like walking down the street.
More than one in three (35%) women have received an unsolicited nude image whilst at work
Over one in four (27%) have received one whilst travelling on public transport
Almost one in five (19%) have received images just whilst walking down the street.*
While the overwhelming majority of the UK population agree that more needs to be done to stop unsolicited sexual images, the current legislation's complexity and confusing nature risk further eroding women's faith in the UK's criminal justice system.
Bumble is working alongside UN Women UK to call for a consent-based approach to legislation which will protect victims in a meaningful way. To support the call, Bumble is asking people to show their support for a consent-based approach to cyberflashing legislation by signing this pledge.