Georgia Harrison, 30, known for her roles on reality shows such as The Only Way Is Essex and Love Island, is bravely confronting the difficult realities surrounding her experiences with revenge porn. Following the conviction of her ex-partner, Stephen Bear, for sharing intimate footage of them without her consent, Harrison is leading the charge to raise awareness about the growing issues of deepfakes and image-based sexual abuse through her new two-part documentary series, titled Georgia Harrison: Porn, Power, Profit.
Bear, 35, was found guilty of voyeurism and two counts of intentionally disclosing private sexual photographs and films, resulting in a 21-month prison sentence handed down in 2023. Not only did Harrison waive her right to anonymity during the trial, but she has also been vocal about the emotional toll this violation has taken on her life. "I would say obviously the hardest part for me was having to see how widespread my video still is," Harrison shared. "I have a lot of people messaging me all the time, sending me clips of it. It’s always something in the back of my mind, but having to really face head-on exactly where it is and how many places it’s in was a real struggle for me."
Through the documentary, which is set to air on February 18 and 19, 2024, Harrison seeks to shine light on the pervasive issue of image-based sexual abuse. She expressed her hope for significant change within the digital sphere, emphasizing, "The only way for it to be impossible for not only my video but any victim of image-based sexual abuse’s video not to be online in the future is for there to be more awareness and for the government and higher-up companies within the internet to get together and face it head-on." Harrison’s advocacy aims to bolster support for victims and instigate necessary changes to legislation and platform policies.
The impact of her ordeal has not been isolated to her life alone. After speaking with mothers whose children have also fallen victim to AI-generated fake images, Harrison commented, "It is the same feeling of humiliation, a violation of literally being de-clothed without your consent. It's unconsented image-based abuse. Just because it's fake, doesn't mean it doesn't evoke the same emotion within the victim it affects." This assertion highlights the similar emotional repercussions faced by victims of both real and digitally manipulated intimate content.
Harrison insists on raising awareness as the first step toward significant change, expressing her belief: "By raising awareness, it could lead to change on the internet, allowing not just myself but anyone who has experienced revenge porn to stop waking up each day with the fear of it still being online." The documentary explores the deep-rooted issues within the revenge porn industry, examining how such violations proliferate across various platforms.
Importantly, Harrison's work has sparked greater conversations about the necessary legislative measures to protect individuals from digital abuse. Following the enactment of the Online Safety Act by the previous UK government, which mandated social media companies to step up their efforts to combat harmful content, current discussions have been reignited about the adequacy of these laws. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle recently criticized existing internet safety regulations as "very uneven" and "unsatisfactory" during parliamentary discussions.
The urgency of addressing these issues has only been amplified by the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's recent announcement proposing the UK become the first country to criminalize the ownership of AI tools expressly used to create images of child sexual abuse. This proposed legislation would impose substantial penalties for violators, with prison sentences of up to five years.
Harrison's personal narrative as both survivor and advocate aligns with her documentary's mission to expose the hidden dynamics of digitally enabled abuse. Her call to action extends beyond mere discussion; she is meeting with lawmakers and sharing her story to galvanize support for stronger protections for victims of image-based sexual offenses.
Now, as she embarks on this impactful project, Georgia Harrison remains hopeful about the potential for progress. "I have so much faith," she stated, "that eventually we will live in a world where unconsented imagery is far harder to share, especially on the normal web." Harrison's determination and resilience resonate strongly, inspiring many who have faced similar challenges.
With her documentary launching soon, viewers can expect not only to witness Harrison's personal struggle but to gain insight on the legal and emotional battles many face due to the exploitation of private images online. This timely exploration could lay the groundwork for widespread dialogue on digital safety and greater accountability for tech companies and perpetrators alike.
Georgia Harrison: Porn, Power, Profit will air on February 18 and 19 at 9PM GMT on ITV2 and ITVX, spotlighting the pressing need for change and awareness surrounding the revenge porn epidemic.