IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE

Image-based sexual abuse is an umbrella term that refers to the non-consensual:

1) distribution of intimate images/videos;

2) recording of intimate images/videos (upskirting/downblousing); and

3) threatening to distribute or record intimate images/videos.

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It also includes distributing, recording, and threatening to record intimate images or videos that have been altered, such as photoshopped imagery or deepfakes. 

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Altered, doctored, or manipulated pornographic imagery can occur in many forms including:

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1. 'Face Swapping' 

This form of manipulated imagery is where person A's face is superimposed onto pornographic material of person B (such as naked photos) in such a way to depict person A as being in the pornographic material. Examples include the manipulation of images where:

• person A is depicted in images as a naked adult actress engaged in sexual intercourse;

• person A is depicted posing in solo sexually explicit shots;

• person A is depicted being ejaculated on by naked male adult actors; and

• person A is depicted on pornographic movie covers.

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Text of person A's name can also be superimposed onto the manipulated media to falsely depict person A. 

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2. 'Transparent Edits'

This form of manipulated imagery is where a person's clothes are digitally manipulated to give the effect of it being transparent or wet. For example, a woman's blouse can be edited so that the appearance of computer-generated/fake nipples can be seen through their clothes

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3. 'Cumonprintedpics' or 'tributes'

This form of manipulated imagery is where a perpetrator has ejaculated onto an image of person A, and has taken an image of their semen (with/without penis) on person A's image. The perpetrator then takes this secondary image (containing person A's image and perpetrator's penis/semen) and posts it online. 

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4. 'Bodily Alterations' 

This form of manipulated imagery is where a perpetrator digitally manipulates an image of person A by enlarging or enhancing person A's private parts, particularly the breasts or bottom. The alterations are usually very extreme.

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5. 'Juxtapositions' 

This form of image-based sexual abuse is where a perpetrator doesn't necessarily alter an image of person A, but instead juxtaposes (places side-by-side) an image of person A next to say, a pornographic image of person B, where person B has a similar-looking appearance/body to person A. The perpetrator may then expressly or impliedly indicate that the pornographic image of person B is person A.

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6. 'Unidentifiable Alterations'

This form of image-based abuse is where a perpetrator digitally manipulates an image of person A (into highly sexual material) but person A cannot be (objectively) identified at all.

In this grey area, I believe that it really doesn't matter whether person A can be identifiable by third parties, what matters is whether person A can identify themselves, because of how violating and degrading it is to be the subject of the digital manipulation in itself.

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