An awareness campaign is starting today around the illegality of sharing intimate images of others.
Research shows half of the population is not aware that it's against the law, while also threatening to share can be a form of coercive control.
The laws - also known as Coco's Law - were brought in two years ago.
The new campaign aims to make victims feel empowered to report the sharing of intimate images.
Health Minister Simon Harris said, "today, fulfilling one of the actions in the Zero Tolerance Strategy we launch a new awareness campaigns to make people aware of this legislation, to make people aware that threatening to share intimate images is illegal, as well as being a reprehensible act.
“We know that threatening to share intimate imagery can be a feature of coercive control, for example, in relationships.
“We also know that it is a threat that can be used purely for monetary or financial gain.
“Whatever a person’s motivation for threatening to share an intimate image of another person, it is a crime through Coco’s Law which Minister McEntee enacted in 2021 and which is now seen across Europe as a pioneering piece of legislation.
“Research carried out on behalf of my Department shows that half the population does not know that this is illegal. We want to change that.”
