Sophia Hoeckle, an undergraduate in the departments of Law and Criminology and Politics, International Relations and Philosophy, has completed and published a multilateral comparative research project as part of the Summer Research and Education Programme within the College

In a four-week research project under the supervision of Dr Aislinn O’Connell, Sophia researched the laws around image-based abuse and online image-sharing in several common-law countries.

Hoeckle researched various aspects of the law in different jurisdictions, and designed her own parameters for the comparison, including selecting the territories analysed and the applicable laws to compare. She completed the project by producing an infographic-style poster, suitable for display, which compares the laws around image-sharing in Canada, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and England & Wales, on five comparative points.

• What kind of images are covered by the law?
• Does the law protect from threats to share?
• Is there anonymity for victim-survivors?
• Is there a statutory definition of consent?
• Are there requirements for the perpetrator’s intentions?

Sophia’s research is timely and necessary, as the Law Commission prepares its recommendations for reform of the law around the taking, making, and sharing of intimate images.

The project was completed as part of the College’s Summer Research and Education Placements Programme, which enabled students to undertake one-month summer placements working on projects designed by academic colleagues. The final version of the infographic is available here.