Revenge porn to become a criminal offence

The Government has given the green light for legislation to criminalise revenge porn and to extend the law in relation to stalking and harassment.

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has ordered her officials to draw up proposals, saying the nature of online communication can “magnify” the damage caused to victims. The development follows the publication last September of a reportby the Law Reform Commission.

The State’s independent legal advisory body called for a number of new criminal offences to tackle online abuse like revenge porn and cyberbullying and recommended a powerful oversight agency.