A new report highlights a critical oversight in how image-based abuse is addressed: a persistent focus on nudity that neglects the broader, often devastating, impact of non-explicit images. Gender justice organization Chayn’s findings, supported by Pakistani actress Ayesha Omar, reveal that for many women, the most damaging repercussions stem not from explicit content, but from the weaponization of ordinary photographs to control reputation and inflict social shame.
The Devastating Impact of Ordinary Images
The report, titled Explicit Harms of Non-Explicit Images, details the experiences of individuals like Mahnoor, a pseudonym used to protect her privacy. Mahnoor’s life was irrevocably altered not by nude photos, but by images showing her with bare shoulders, wearing Western clothing, or even ordinary selfies taken in everyday settings. These photos, saved on her phone and never intended for public sharing, were accessed by her former husband and disseminated to male relatives, colleagues, and acquaintances.
Mahnoor explained that her ex-husband strategically cropped images to insinuate affairs and used them to brand her as a “woman of bad character.” This accusation, particularly in conservative communities, carries severe consequences, leading to social ostracization, loss of professional standing, and damaged family relationships. “I lost my voice,” Mahnoor stated, describing how her family and former colleagues became distant, robbing her of the respect and visibility she once held.
Consent and Control: The Real Issues
Hera Hussain, the report’s author and founder of Chayn, emphasizes that the conversation around image-based abuse needs a fundamental shift. “The image does not have to be nude for it to be harmful,” Hussain asserts. “Sometimes it can be as harmful, even if not a single body part is bare.” The organization advocates for reframing the discussion away from nudity and towards the core issues of consent, intent, and the harm inflicted.
Chayn’s research, which involved 64 interviews across Pakistan and with diaspora communities, identified a range of non-explicit images that women fear being shared. These include photos showing hair visible without a headscarf, Western or fitted clothing, images with non-relative men, fabricated conversation screenshots, or AI-generated images. The report argues that the harm is determined not by the image’s content itself, but by the context of its distribution and the ensuing consequences.
Personal Testimonies of Harm
Actress Ayesha Omar shared her own experience, where photographs from a holiday taken over a decade ago, depicting her in a swimsuit, were stolen from her laptop and circulated online. “It was very damaging for my career,” Omar recounted. “I lost ad campaigns. I lost some work stuff.” She noted the psychological and emotional toll, stating, “Because in my culture, you have to conform to a particular image… So it did damage me psychologically and emotionally a lot.” The experience left her feeling “hypervigilant” about being filmed.
Systemic Failures in Addressing Abuse
The report criticizes both technology companies and authorities for their inadequate responses. Mahnoor’s attempt to report the abuse to Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency was dismissed because the images were not nude or sexually explicit. Her mobile provider offered no assistance without the original SIM card, which her ex-husband had taken. Similarly, her complaint to WhatsApp was met with a response that the images did not breach platform rules, despite the platform’s stated commitment to dealing with “abusive people.”
Hussain points to a systemic failure, suggesting that automated moderation systems, often trained to detect nudity, miss the nuances of image-based abuse. The reliance on automated tools, coupled with reduced human oversight and consolidated regional expertise, exacerbates the problem. The report also highlights the burden placed on victims, who must repeatedly view traumatic images to report them, often without a simple mechanism for bulk removal.
The consequences of image-based abuse extend beyond the individual, impacting entire families. The report cites a case where three sisters in Pakistan were killed after a video of them at a wedding was shared, leading to life sentences for male relatives. The concept of collective honor means that leaked images can shame entire households, leading to fathers facing workplace difficulties and sisters experiencing collapsed marriages.
A Call for a Broader Understanding
Legal frameworks in some countries, such as France and the UAE, offer stronger protections regarding the right to one’s image and privacy. However, the report concludes that a broader understanding of image-based abuse is urgently needed. “Image-based abuse is bigger and wider than nudes,” Hussain stated, identifying a “systemic failure” across police, courts, and tech platforms. She urged support for survivors, emphasizing that the abuse is not their fault and that organizations like Chayn are available to help.
