Supporting students to take control of leaked explicit images

This content was written by BLM prior to its merger with Clyde & Co.

A new tool helps young people remove explicit images of themselves from the internet, but it is only a final step in the safeguarding process for victims, writes Solicitor Suzanne Houghton for Schools Week.

Recently, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and Childline announced the creation of a ‘world first’ service that allows minors to request leaked nude images or videos of themselves to be removed from the internet. For the first time, people under the age of 18 who are concerned that a nude photo of them is online – or could potentially end up there – can now flag up the content and it may be removed if it breaks the law.

Discussing the new tool called Report Remove, Suzanne said:

"The sharing of explicit images is a growing problem among an increasingly digitally-savvy generation, and education providers need to respond quickly and with sensitivity. These incidents can leave those affected feeling powerless, with their own images out of their control; let’s hope Report Remove helps to provide them with some sense of control back."

Read the article in full here.