Navigating the Trauma of Revenge Porn
Despite an uptick in cases, ‘Revenge Porn’ has not yet been recognized explicitly as a crime in India
Credits: Xueh Magrini Troll
September 20, 2022
In the world of modern dating, keeping the ‘spark’ alive has come to assume a rather challenging connotation. Perhaps even more challenging is when the parties involved don’t have the opportunity to be in physical proximity of each other.
With dating apps displaying the variety of possible romantic interests as products on a shopping aisle, it is rather difficult to see the merit in a long-distance relationship. To ensure the survival of their relationship, couples are often compelled to resort to virtual communication. However, mere texts can seldom compensate for the presence of a significant other. This situation opens the window to the exchange of pictures and videos that are anything but PG-13.
So one of the many perils of modern dating is its transient nature. So, what happens to the private data exchanged during the relationship?
It is expected that when the relationship is over, all parties involved would delete any intimate data they may have from their devices. This, however, is a nightmare for many.
Consider the following case:
Animesh and Anika (name changed) had been in a relationship for three years. With a promise to marry her, Animesh obtained some private photos of Anika. He then began blackmailing her, telling her that he would upload her intimate photos and videos online if she refused to spend time with him. When his demands weren’t met, Animesh uploaded her pictures and videos to a porn website.
This case is an example of the phenomenon of ‘revenge porn.’
Let us try to understand the concept in more detail.
Nonconsensual pornography is a sexually graphic image or video of an individual distributed without the consent of the person depicted in the media. Revenge porn is a type of nonconsensual porn, defined as the distribution of sexually graphic images or videos of an individual without their consent in the context of an intimate relationship.
Survivors of revenge porn like Anika have been sharing their experiences online. However, many such survivors are judged by the police, and some even publicly shamed and blamed.
Since revenge porn not yet been recognized explicitly as a crime, India does not have a specific law for it. Usually, cases are mostly dealt with under the broader statutes of the Indian Penal Code,1860, (IPC) and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act).
Being a victim of revenge porn can be a traumatising and life changing experience. Apart from taking legal recourse, there are a few steps that one can take, in order to take back control.
1. Self-Awareness: Become aware of not just your emotions, but also physiological triggers. Notice your breath and observe whether your muscles stiffen at the mention of the incident, and other related triggers. Also notice your muscles when you are surrounded by people you trust and engaged in activities you enjoy.
This is the first step to understanding what to avoid and what to embrace. Remember that your feelings are valid. Being aware of your emotions will help you gain more control over them.
2. Reach Out to Your Support System: Know that you don’t have to deal with the problem all by yourself. It is a proven and reliable tool of recovery to depend on your social support system such as friends and family.
3. Seek Professional Help: Consider support like counselling or victim assistance services. Some services offer an immediate, confidential, and free connection with someone who is trained in supporting survivors of various intimate crimes.
Credits: WomanLog
4. Educate Yourself about the Legal Process: Facing trial as a survivor of an intimate crime could be a long and painful process. Discuss your concerns with your lawyer who can explain the entire court proceedings to you. You can also find a guide to the legal process on the Ministry of Health and family welfare’s website.
If you or someone you know has been a survivor of revenge porn,
remember that the survivor is not at fault. Most importantly, the survivor is not alone. Seeking help openly and fearlessly is the first step to recovery.
Author: Bhavya Tandon works as a Lecturer at Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences. Editorial Inputs by Samreen Chhabra.