Call for 'Cyber Flashing' to be made illegal

[Sparklfairy]

I couldn't find this posted anywhere so apologies if I've missed it.

I just got this email from the dating app Bumble. For those who don't know (I didn't when I signed up), Bumble was created "to create an online space where women could make the first move without fear of harassment, misogyny, or any of the other toxicity that has long plagued the internet." I personally have been pleasantly surprised with their swift action when reporting inappropriate content and equally surprised that I had it so ingrained that as a woman I had to accept it on other apps.

Bumble are encouraging people to write to their MPs to change the law about 'Cyber Flashing' i.e. dick pics. I think it's a great idea and something that can't be denied as the proof is right there. I just wondered what others think?

bumble.com/the-buzz/bumble-uk-government-cyberflashing-law-crime

Bump

Yes 100% think it should be illegal.

Definitely.

I've had this so many times, which is why I don't have social media anymore.

My son also had a girl send him nude pics, she was only 14 and he was 15, when we reported it he was basically mocked by the school and police.

It should absolutely be illegal.

wow @ABCeasyasdohrayme that is awful, your poor son! You would think that would be a safeguarding issue (for the girl as well as your son!) of interest to at least the school, if not the police?

@Sparklfairy

wow *@ABCeasyasdohrayme* that is awful, your poor son! You would think that would be a safeguarding issue (for the girl as well as your son!) of interest to at least the school, if not the police?

I reported it to SS myself and they, thankfully, took it seriously.

The attitude of the teacher and the police was basically that he should be grateful to be having a girl sending nudes to him, they would have loved that at his age etc. This was around 5 years ago now, hopefully things have moved on a bit since then.

SS supported the girl, but there was no help for my son.

they would have loved that at his age etc

What a vile attitude, and representative of society as a whole i think that recipients should somehow take it as a compliment (?) rather than viewing it as disgusting as "traditional" flashing

Awful that your son got no support from SS. I suspect if the sexes were reversed, even if the ages were the same, that wouldn't have been the case

As long as cyber flashing applies to both sexes, sure.

But tbh, what apps do people use that allow other to send them pics?

Imo, if you dont like whats on the internet/social media/dating app, then just get off that platform/application. Problem solved.

I suspect if the sexes were reversed, even if the ages were the same, that wouldn't have been the case

You're probably right, unfortunately.

Imo, if you dont like whats on the internet/social media/dating app, then just get off that platform/application. Problem solved.

If you don't like dick pics you shouldn't be on any social media platforms? Wtf.

That's like saying if you don't want to be flashed at them don't leave your house.

As long as cyber flashing applies to both sexes, sure.

because that's the most important thing?

I've read countless lists of offences and male sex offenders frequently move form flashing to rape. It's almost always there in the record. And it's not taken seriously at all as an offence. Which means that an opportunity to prevent rape was missed.

This is simply not the case with women.

I do think the law in this case absolutely should apply to everyone. But pretending sex offending is remotely equal by sex is utter utter nonsense.

In @ABCeasyasdohrayme son's case that's even more serious because it's minors and really worrying in terms of all sorts of things. And again, I do think the law should apply to everyone.

But pretending sex offending is remotely equal by sex is utter utter nonsense.

This is very true.

I have been sent loads of unsolicited pictures, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp even text from strangers to men know. Just about every woman I know has.

Aside from my son I don't know any straight man who has received an unsolicited picture.

@ABCeasyasdohrayme

But pretending sex offending is remotely equal by sex is utter utter nonsense.

This is very true.

I have been sent loads of unsolicited pictures, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp even text from strangers to men know. Just about every woman I know has.

Aside from my son I don't know any straight man who has received an unsolicited picture.

Although I feel for your son. Men do have to deal with the stupid puerile nonsense that they should all welcome any sexual contact at any age from anyone.

@JennyDune

As long as cyber flashing applies to both sexes, sure.

But tbh, what apps do people use that allow other to send them pics?

Imo, if you dont like whats on the internet/social media/dating app, then just get off that platform/application. Problem solved.

But tbh, what apps do people use that allow other to send them pics?

Any dating app/site?? Duh. As well as any 'normal' social media?

Are you suggesting that I should stop OLD and using SM in any form, rather than solving the actual problem - unsolicited dick pics?

The very fact that Bumble was created - to protect women from this, and an equivalent app has NOT been created, because there is NO market for it - because women DON'T do this on anywhere near the same scale should tell you everything, and your desperate need to be woke or bleat equality or whatever you're doing, is, frankly, pathetic.

Thanks for the reminder - I got this this morning too, and hadn't acted on it yet. I've just emailed my MP, who is a fairly young woman and may wel have encountered this herself. I'd be surprised if she didn't take it seriously.

If you are sending this email to your MP using Bumble's template remember to include your full name and address, with postcode, or they can't engage with it - they need to know you are a constituent.

It is already an offence under the Communications Act 2003:

127 Improper use of public electronic communications network

(1)A person is guilty of an offence if he—
(a)sends by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or
(b)causes any such message or matter to be so sent.

And under the Malicious Communications Act 1988
1 Offence of sending letters etc. with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

(1)Any person who sends to another person—
(a)a [F1letter, electronic communication or article of any description] which conveys—
(i)a message which is indecent or grossly offensive;
(ii)a threat; or
(iii)information which is false and known or believed to be false by the sender; or
(b)any [F2article or electronic communication] which is, in whole or part, of an indecent or grossly offensive nature,
is guilty of an offence if his purpose, or one of his purposes, in sending it is that it should, so far as falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above, cause distress or anxiety to the recipient or to any other person to whom he intends that it or its contents or nature should be communicated.

Thanks @BurscoughBooths I didn't know that. And I would be a lot of people, both men and women, don't know it either. Possibly for dating apps a least, a warning could pop up when you attach a photo saying sending unsolicited pics of your genitals is a crime, and also a message to the recipient...

Bet not be*