Companies, Civil Society, Academics Announce Voluntary Principles to Combat Image-Based Sexual Abuse

September 12, 2024

This press release was originally published by the Center for Democracy & Technology.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NNEDV Communications Team (Communications@NNEDV.org)

On the 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, major tech companies, civil society organizations, and academics announced a set of voluntary principles to prevent and address Image Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA). The principles, developed in response to a Call to Action to Combat Image-Based Sexual Abuse issued by the White House in May of this year, are intended to serve as a guide for the tech industry in combating IBSA and protecting privacy, expression, and safety. Private sector signatories currently include Aylo, Bumble, Discord, Hugging Face, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok.

IBSA, a term coined by scholars Clare McGlynn and Erika Rackley, includes the creation and distribution of nonconsensual intimate images. While this abuse is not a new phenomenon, it has been exacerbated by the power of social media and generative AI. The voluntary principles released today recognize that “regardless of whether the images are authentic or inauthentic, IBSA can cause devastating psychological, financial, and reputational harm. It can also be a factor in harassment, impersonation, and offline violence.” The principles underscore IBSA’s disproportionate impact on women and girls (especially women and girls of color) and the LGBTQI+ community.

“Thirty years after the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, more work is urgently needed to address the harms caused by image-based sexual abuse,” said Alexandra Reeve Givens, President and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology. “Technology can and should be a tool for empowerment, not abuse. These principles can guide the tech industry in guarding against the harms posed by IBSA and supporting people’s ability to participate in trustworthy online spaces.”

“For over a decade, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative has been sounding the alarm about the devastating impact of image-based sexual abuse, especially on women, girls, and sexual minorities,” said Dr. Mary Anne Franks, President of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative.  “The nonconsensual disclosure of sexually explicit images, whether real or manipulated, causes grave psychological, economic, and reputational damage. Image exploitation chills the freedom of expression of those targeted and undermines their equal participation in society. Because technology plays a central role in the acceleration and amplification of image-based sexual abuse, tech industry leaders have a responsibility to combat it. While the endorsement of these basic Principles is a positive signal, the real measure of tech accountability will be in the implementation of effective preventive measures against this abuse.”

“Image-based sexual abuse and, specifically, the non-consensual distribution of intimate images are long-standing, deeply concerning issues that intersect with intimate partner violence,” said Stephanie Love-Patterson, President & CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “NNEDV is dedicated to the ongoing work necessary to thoroughly address these issues. We are happy to see companies signing onto these principles as they will guide the development of best practices and industry standards. The next step for meaningful impact, for both prevention and response, will be in the implementation. This collaboration and joint effort signifies a real commitment to this work.”

The principles were developed through discussions with members of a multistakeholder Working Group to Combat Image Based Sexual Abuse helmed by the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence. The Working Group, which includes representatives from leading technology companies, trust and safety practitioners, experts in technology-facilitated gender-based violence, organizations representing impacted communities, and organizations focused on digital rights, will continue its work in the months ahead to share best practices and increase coordination across industries, civil society, and academia.

The principles address a range of issues companies face in identifying, preventing, addressing the impacts of, and communicating about IBSA.

The initial list of signatories includes Aylo, Bumble, Hugging Face, Discord, Match Group, Meta Microsoft, TikTok, the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the Free Speech Coalition, Centre for Digital Citizens, the Sexual Violence Prevention Association, the Human Rights Campaign, and LGBT Tech. Individual signers include Carolina Are of Northumbria University Newcastle; Renee DiResta, former research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory; and Elissa Redmiles of Georgetown University, each of whom participated in their individual capacity.

The full text of the principles can be found at IBSAPrinciples.org. For organizations interested in signing onto the IBSA Principles please email signup@ibsaprinciples.org.

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The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is the leading nonpartisan, nonprofit organization fighting to advance civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age. We shape technology policy, governance, and design with a focus on equity and democratic values. Established in 1994, CDT has been a trusted advocate for digital rights since the earliest days of the internet. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has a Europe Office in Brussels, Belgium.

The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) is the leading US-based nonprofit organization dedicated to combating image-based sexual abuse. CCRI works to create a world in which law, policy and technology align to protect free expression, privacy, and safety for all. CCRI provides model legislation, supportive resources for victims and survivors, and public outreach and education about the nonconsensual use of intimate images. 

The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) represents the 56 state and U.S. territorial coalitions against domestic violence. NNEDV is a social change organization working to create a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence no longer exists. NNEDV works to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.