Reality TV star Georgia Harrison recounts her ordeal with Stephen Bear’s leaked revenge porn video, urging MPs to enforce stricter content removal policies.

Reality TV star Georgia Harrison likened the rapid spread of a revenge porn video featuring her and Stephen Bear to a “house fire” as she testified before MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee. Bear, a former Celebrity Big Brother winner, was sentenced to prison in March 2023 after releasing the video on OnlyFans without Harrison’s consent.

“When something like this is happening, it really is like a house fire,” Harrison stated, emphasizing the urgency required in tackling the issue. “The quicker you can put it out, the quicker you can stop it.”

The video quickly spread across multiple adult websites and messaging apps, leaving Harrison horrified. Her attempts to reach out to platforms to remove the unconsented footage often resulted in automated responses promising a reply within days. This inaction by content platforms, she explained, only aggravated her distress.

Bear, 34, was convicted of voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private sexual photos and videos with the intent to cause distress. He has been ordered to pay back £22,305, the amount he earned from distributing the video.

Harrison criticized the major social media platforms for lacking robust processes to promptly remove unconsented explicit content. She insisted that videos should be taken down the same day a victim notifies the platform that they didn’t give consent.

“If something gets to the level where you say ‘this is me in a sexually explicit act and I have not given permission,’ it should be paused that day, not in four to six days,” she urged.

Her experience left her fearful about her future, particularly about starting a family. “I know whenever I’m dating or meeting new people or entering new work opportunities, I’m known as the person with this sex tape,” Harrison said. “I never filmed it and never consented to its distribution.”

She expressed concern that her children could stumble upon the video in the future due to insufficient protections. Harrison added, “I’m not protected in the right way by the government.”

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has yet to comment on the situation.

Analysis:

Georgia Harrison’s testimony sheds light on the rising issue of revenge porn and the inadequacy of current policies for handling such cases. From a political perspective, her experience serves as a rallying cry for stricter legislation and greater accountability from social media companies. Despite some existing regulations, Harrison’s ordeal illustrates significant gaps, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive data protection and prompt content removal.

Sociologically, the case underscores the long-term emotional trauma that victims of revenge porn endure. Harrison’s fears about her future family and career prospects show how such incidents deeply impact personal and professional life. Society’s readiness to label individuals based on one viral incident also exposes an unhealthy culture of victim-blaming that reinforces these fears.

Economically, Bear profited substantially from sharing the video. His financial penalty seems insufficient compared to the emotional and reputational damage inflicted on Harrison. This discrepancy underlines a broader issue of how monetary gain from digital content often outweighs ethical considerations and highlights the need for stricter deterrents.

From a gender perspective, the case illuminates the power imbalance often faced by women in the digital age. While victims like Harrison endure public scrutiny and social stigma, perpetrators rarely face the same level of backlash, perpetuating gender inequality.

Moreover, revenge porn disproportionately affects marginalized groups. Those lacking financial resources or social support may struggle to access legal aid or pursue justice. The ordeal Harrison endured could be even more traumatic for individuals without a public platform.

Overall, Harrison’s testimony provides critical insight into the challenges victims face and emphasizes the necessity for swift, decisive action. Stricter content policies, enhanced victim support, and comprehensive public education can reduce the prevalence of revenge porn and mitigate its impact.