Online IBSA
Online Sexual Violence
In Ireland the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco's law is an act dealing with non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Images, and cyberbullying. This law makes it illegal to distribute, publish or threaten to distribute or publish an intimate image/video without consent with intent to cause harm or being reckless as to whether harm is caused and all grossly offensive and/or threatening communication about or to another person.
It also includes:
- Cyberstalking - repeated and deliberate use of internet and/or social media sites to engage in persistent, unwanted communication intended to frighten, intimidate or harass someone or spy on them.
- Image Based Sexual Abuse – recording, sharing or saving sexual or intimate photos or videos without the person’s consent.
- Deep fakes, AI and Nudify app production of images and/or videos without knowledge or consent.
- Upskirting – filming or photographing under a person’s clothes without their permission.
- Sextortion - Sextortion is a form of cyber extortion involving a threat or blackmail of having intimate information, images or clips shared without consent. The threat or blackmail may be to get the victim to do or refrain from doing something, or the threat or blackmail may be purely for money or financial gain. It occurs in a number of ways:
- During a relationship or where a relationship has broken down – either partner can be the victim
- During online activity, sharing intimate images with another online partner, either strangers or people known to you
- Sharing of images on messaging apps
- Juveniles involved in the sharing of intimate images, in addition to being open to potential sextortion and online bullying, the sharing of any intimate image of a juvenile is Child Sexual Abuse Material.
Non-fatal Strangulation or Non-fatal Suffocation
The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, added to the Non -fatal Offences against the Person’s Act 1997 to make these official charges. The amendment makes it illegal to Intentionally or recklessly strangle or suffocate someone, or impede their breathing, also now a serious harm offense if non-fatal strangulation/suffocation causes serious harm.
Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024
The Act sets out a number of new offences. These are more serious versions of existing offences where the person committing the crime is motivated by hatred or demonstrates hatred because of a person’s:
- Race
- Colour
- Nationality
- Religion
- National or ethnic origin
- Descent
- Gender
- Sex characteristics
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
Crimes which are hate crimes when hatred is proven include:
- Damaging property
- Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place
- Assault
- Assault causing harm or serious harm
- Harassment
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Manager at TU Dublin Catherine Bolger 0873415570 or consent@tudublin.ie is the First point of Contact for any incidents.