Data protection law ‘needs to criminalise revenge porn’

The Data Protection Act should be changed to make social media platforms legally liable for failing to take down revenge porn images, an expert has said.

Revenge porn is sexually explicit media that is publicly shared online without the consent of the pictured individual.

Barrister Fergal Crehan said an amendment to the act could allow victims to take a civil action against sites that fail to comply with orders from the Data Protection Commissioner to remove specified photographs and videos.