Cyber-flashing: Woman 'almost numb' after getting unsolicited nude pictures for 10 years

A woman who has been subjected to cyber-flashing for the past ten years has backed a campaign to make it illegal.

Cyber-flashing, which disproportionately affects women, is the sending of unsolicited images or video recordings of genitals without consent.

These explicit images are regularly sent on social media and messaging apps, through AirDrop, WiFi networks or Bluetooth.

Campaigner and podcaster, Jess Davis, has been a victim of cyber-flashing and supports the campaign to criminalise it.

"I have experienced having unsolicited images sent to me since I was 18 years old, since I started using social media so really over the last 10 years.

"It's just been continuous and it's really disappointing that you almost become numb to it because it happens so often."

When asked about how cyber-flashing can affect victims, Jess said, "It can have a really big affect, I feel, on victims because it's invasive and you start to think, why is this happening to me?

"It was only a few weeks ago I opened up my email account in the morning as soon as I woke up and was greeted by these images that had been sent to me of unsolicited genital pictures.

"It is something that feels really personal and can really affect the way that you feel about yourself."

In Scotland, cyberflashing has been a sexual offence for over a decade.

In the last year, half of women aged 18-24 (48%) have received a sexual photo they have not asked for.

And 1 in 4 (28%) women have said unsolicited cyber-flashing has increased during the pandemic.

Campaigners argue if flashing is illegal on the street, or at the office, or in the classroom - why is it not illegal online?

Dating app Buble has launched a campaign calling for cyber-flashing to be made illegal in England & Wales. UN Women UK, Bumble and other experts will present their findings to MPs.