New Criminal Offences Mooted For Acts Of Voyeurism

The government is proposing the introduction of new criminal offences to specifically outlaw voyeurism and sharing intimate pictures without the consent of those filmed.

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the Security Bureau suggests new criminal offences of voyeurism, intimate prying, and non-consensual photography of people's intimate parts, either when they're fully exposed or only covered by underwear.

The bureau also proposes an offence covering the distribution of images of intimate acts without people's consent, even if consent was given at the time the photo or video was taken.

It says this is in response to complaints from people whose naked images were distributed by former partners, so-called "revenge porn".

The government will carry out a three-month public consultation on the proposed new offences.

The lack of specific offences hasn't stopped arrests and prosecutions over various acts of voyeurism.

Between 2015 and 2018, for example, more than 70 percent of those convicted of "accessing a computer with criminal intent" had either taken pictures up women's skirts, or put intimate images on the internet without permission.