The leak of intimate images has been an increasingly constant problem in network interactions around the world. SWGfL, a UK-based NGO, launched the StopNCII.org platform in December 2021. After nearly a year of service, StopNCII.org has helped over 12,000 people file cases in preventing intimate images and videos from being shared online without consent.
New is that participating companies will now be able to receive hashes directly from StopNCII.org. The meaning of the organization’s name is Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Images. Anyone who has been affected by intimate image sharing threats can use StopNCII.org to protect themselves, right from their own phone, computer or tablet. Adults can ensure that their intimate images remain private at the NGO’s partner technology companies. StopNCII.org empowers adults to take protective measures while taking control away from those who share intimate images of others.
How does StopNCII.org work?
StopNCII.org uses world-first on-device hashing technology. People threatened with intimate image abuse can create unique identifiers from their images (also known as ‘hashes’ or fingerprints).
Only hashes are shared, not the original image (or video). This ensures that the images (or videos) never leave the device. When a case is opened, the hashes are presented as a string of letters and numbers instead of the image itself to protect user privacy. Hashes are uploaded to StopNCII.org and then shared with participating partners.
If an image is uploaded, is similar to the corresponding hash, and meets partner policy requirements, the image will be submitted for moderation by the participating platform. If the image meets the criteria for an intimate image, it will be removed and blocked from further sharing across all partner platforms.
StopNCII.org is a free global platform with over 70 global NGO partners and has had over 40,000 hashes created. Abuse of intimate images, also known as “revenge porn,” is a growing global concern and one that StopNCII.org is actively addressing. In the UK alone, the Revenge Porn Helpline operated by SWGfL saw cases increase by over 40% between 2020 and 2021, rising from 3,146 cases to 4,406. StopNCII.org offers adults the opportunity to protect themselves while maintaining control of their images. According to Sophie Mortimer, director of the Revenge Porn Helpline at SWGfL:
‘StopNCII.org is a turning point in the ongoing fight against non-consensual abuse of intimate images. Anyone who feels concerned or threatened by the sharing of intimate images can take back control while disempowering the perpetrators. With our industry partners, we will continue to address this global issue and work to support any adult around the world who needs support. We encourage anyone who is experiencing the devastating effects of intimate image abuse to use StopNCII.org and ensure that their private intimate images remain private.”
Lisa Roman, Vice President of Public Policy at Bumble Inc, comments:
“At Bumble Inc., we are on a mission to help create a world where all relationships are healthy and equitable. Bumble cares deeply about providing people, especially women, with the tools they need to feel empowered online. Our goal is – through our product features, policies and partnerships – to give people more control over their private images. Our participation in StopNCII.org is another important step in this direction. With so much of our time spent online, non-consensual image abuse is a growing problem that, like other forms of sexual harassment, disproportionately targets and affects women. We are proud to partner with StopNCII.org to fight abuse of intimate images and ensure the wider internet is a safer space.”
Julie de Bailliencourt, Head of Product Policy, TikTok, says:
“Our goal at TikTok is to provide a safe and supportive environment for our community, and this type of behavior or malicious content has no place on our platform. We are proud to partner with StopNCII.org to strengthen efforts to stop the spread of non-consensual intimate images and better support victims.”
Cindy Southworth, Head of Women’s Safety at Meta, says:
“We are proud to partner with these companies to stop the proliferation of intimate images shared non-consensually online. When we helped SWGfL build this platform, we knew that the entire tech industry would be needed to fight this abuse. The progress made in just the first year since launch is inspiring, and we look forward to continuing to work together to protect even more adults from intimate imagery abuse.”
SWGfL continues to invite any platform that allows users to upload content to join StopNCII.org as an industry partner.
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