Private member’s bill proposes ban on ‘revenge porn’

People who distribute an intimate image of somebody else without their consent could be jailed for six months under legislative proposals published by the Labour Party.

Brendan Howlin, Labour leader and justice spokesperson, said the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill would implement “the thrust” of recent Law Reform Commission recommendations.

The Cabinet already agreed last year to pursue legislation criminalising so-called “revenge porn”.

Mr Howlin said the core purpose of the bill is “to consolidate and reform the criminal law concerning harmful communications”.

He added: “The Law Reform Commission report had two parts, the second of which proposed a system of oversight and regulation under a new online regulator, the Digital Safety Commissioner.

“However, creating a new statutory agency is outside the remit of a Dáil Private Member’s Bill. So, this Bill implements the thrust of the Commission’s proposals on criminal law reform.

“We produced a draft of this Bill a few months ago – I am very grateful to the NGOs and experts who provided comments and suggestions on the draft Bill.”