What is Revenge Porn?
Revenge porn is the distribution of sexually explicit images or videos of the victim without their consent. The material may have been made by a partner in an intimate relationship with the knowledge and consent of the subject at the time, or it may have been made without their knowledge and publicised online or over social media without the victims consent.
Revenge Porn is on the rise and is very personal to me because it was a crime waged against me. It caused so much damage to my life at the time and it took years to recover from it.
Revenge Porn Laws in South Africa
In October of 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Films and Publications Amendment Act 11 of 2019 (“the Act”) in to law which cracks down on the distribution of child pornography, hate speech and revenge porn.
Anyone who breaks the revenge porn laws in South Africa and is found guilty of sharing or distributing revenge porn will face time behind bars or will be fined. If the victim can’t be identified in the content, the perpetrator could face two years in jail and/or pay a fine of up to R150 000. However, if the victim can be identified in any way, the perpetrator could spend four years in prison and/or pay up to R300 000.
Revenge Porn causes psychological distress
The distress includes anger, guilt, paranoia, depression, or even suicide. Consequently, victims of revenge pornography suffer from similar enduring mental health effects as described by victims such as depression, withdrawal, low self-esteem, and feelings of worthlessness.
Revenge Porn can leave long term damages. Damages to a person's reputation, career, relationships and future.
What to do if you have been a victim of revenge porn:
Save all the data you have found. If you found it online, take screen shots of the website, the page information, email yourself the entire page and look for the google source information. Copy and paste this into an email and send it to yourself. Don't forget to take screenshots above this because they cannot be edited or deleted should the website be removed.
Print all the evidence in clear colour pictures. Write down notes such as the page name, any other important details pertaining to the website.
Take all the evidence to SAPS and open a case. Revenge Porn also falls under sexual offences.
If images were sent to you over social media, try obtain the source (who it came from)
If you are unable to find this information make sure you save all the details of the person who sent it to you so that SAPS can investigate it.
Please don't ignore this situation, you will most likely feel humiliated and scared and not know where to turn or what to do. Opening a case is very important but it will feel like you are being violated all over again.
I am a victim of Revenge Porn and finally managed to open my cases against the perpetrator in 2020. Although it was humiliating and embarrassing I am glad I opened a case.
If you need emotional support and guidance as a victim of revenge porn, reach out and we will help you.
Where to report Revenge Porn
SAPS: 10111
Nearest Police Station
Rise Against Domestic Violence SA (NPC)
info@riseagainstdomesticviolence.co.za
081 589 4308
Revenge porn is the distribution of sexually explicit images or videos of the victim without their consent. The material may have been made by a partner in an intimate relationship with the knowledge and consent of the subject at the time, or it may have been made without their knowledge and publicised online or over social media without the victims consent.
Revenge Porn is on the rise and is very personal to me because it was a crime waged against me. It caused so much damage to my life at the time and it took years to recover from it.
Revenge Porn Laws in South Africa
In October of 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Films and Publications Amendment Act 11 of 2019 (“the Act”) in to law which cracks down on the distribution of child pornography, hate speech and revenge porn.
Anyone who breaks the revenge porn laws in South Africa and is found guilty of sharing or distributing revenge porn will face time behind bars or will be fined. If the victim can’t be identified in the content, the perpetrator could face two years in jail and/or pay a fine of up to R150 000. However, if the victim can be identified in any way, the perpetrator could spend four years in prison and/or pay up to R300 000.
Revenge Porn causes psychological distress
The distress includes anger, guilt, paranoia, depression, or even suicide. Consequently, victims of revenge pornography suffer from similar enduring mental health effects as described by victims such as depression, withdrawal, low self-esteem, and feelings of worthlessness.
Revenge Porn can leave long term damages. Damages to a person's reputation, career, relationships and future.
What to do if you have been a victim of revenge porn:
Save all the data you have found. If you found it online, take screen shots of the website, the page information, email yourself the entire page and look for the google source information. Copy and paste this into an email and send it to yourself. Don't forget to take screenshots above this because they cannot be edited or deleted should the website be removed.
Print all the evidence in clear colour pictures. Write down notes such as the page name, any other important details pertaining to the website.
Take all the evidence to SAPS and open a case. Revenge Porn also falls under sexual offences.
If images were sent to you over social media, try obtain the source (who it came from)
If you are unable to find this information make sure you save all the details of the person who sent it to you so that SAPS can investigate it.
Please don't ignore this situation, you will most likely feel humiliated and scared and not know where to turn or what to do. Opening a case is very important but it will feel like you are being violated all over again.
I am a victim of Revenge Porn and finally managed to open my cases against the perpetrator in 2020. Although it was humiliating and embarrassing I am glad I opened a case.
If you need emotional support and guidance as a victim of revenge porn, reach out and we will help you.
Where to report Revenge Porn
SAPS: 10111
Nearest Police Station
Rise Against Domestic Violence SA (NPC)
info@riseagainstdomesticviolence.co.za
081 589 4308
