Georgia Harrison Struggles with Sexually Explicit Video Still Circulating Online.

Georgia Harrison, 30, has bravely shared the ongoing emotional toll of knowing that a sexually explicit video of her remains easily accessible online. The reality TV star has been outspoken about the impact of her ex-partner Stephen Bear’s conviction for distributing a private video of their intimate moments without her consent. Harrison's decision to forgo anonymity was pivotal in Bear, 35, from Loughton, Essex, being sentenced to 21 months in prison in 2023 for his actions.

At 30 years old, Harrison is now at the forefront of a crucial conversation about digital abuse. She is leading a two-part series with ITV, where she delves into the growing issue of deepfakes and image-based sexual abuse. In the documentary, she opens up about her personal experience and the continuing challenge she faces, noting the widespread availability of her video online.

The Struggles of Facing a Digital Violation

Georgia Harrison described the emotional difficulty of confronting the extent to which her video is still circulating on the internet. Speaking candidly about the experience, she said: “I would say obviously the hardest part for me was having to see how widespread my video still is. 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." 

Georgia Harrison visited No. 10 Downing Street to discuss the #OnlineSafetyBill, aiming to protect users from online abuse and make the internet safer for children.  (@georgialouiseharrison Instagram)

The reality star believes the only way to prevent such violations in the future is through greater awareness and collective action from governments and tech companies. She added: “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.”

Georgia Harrison recognizes the emotional toll this journey has taken on her but insists that raising awareness is a vital step toward change. “For me, I know it wasn't the easiest thing to do, it was the best thing I can do for my future and other women's future.”

The Struggles of Mothers and AI-Generated Abuse

During the creation of her documentary, Harrison encountered many stories from mothers whose children were also impacted by AI-generated fake videos. She explained the emotional impact of such abuse, saying: “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.”

Her experience and those of others highlight the emotional and psychological consequences of AI-generated deepfakes, emphasizing that victims, regardless of whether the content is real or fabricated, still endure profound emotional harm.

A Call for Change: Raising Awareness

Harrison remains determined that raising awareness about image-based sexual abuse can bring about significant change on the internet. She hopes that through her series and advocacy, people who have suffered from such abuse will no longer live in constant fear of their images resurfacing online.

“By raising awareness,” she says, “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.”

In her two-part series, Harrison speaks with victims, journalists, and even a representative from a porn site. She expressed optimism about the potential for change, stating: “I have so much faith that eventually we will live in a world where unconsented imagery is far harder to share, especially on the normal web.”

Legal and Legislative Action

Harrison’s advocacy work extends beyond the screen, as she has also shared her experiences with Members of Parliament and at the Labour Party Conference. Her personal story has highlighted the need for stronger legal protections and more proactive action by internet platforms.

(@georgialouiseharrison Instagram

In response to rising concerns about image-based abuse, the UK government enacted the Online Safety Act in 2023, which mandates social media platforms to better protect users from harmful content, including deepfakes. A representative from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology emphasized the government’s commitment to combating this issue, stating: “Sharing private images online without consent is a terrible trend that can cause deep and lasting damage to victims, especially women and girls. Under the Online Safety Act, it is a criminal offence to share or threaten to share intimate images, including deepfakes, without consent.”

They also highlighted the strengthening of laws to provide greater protections for adults, particularly women, and the requirement for platforms to proactively tackle deepfake intimate image abuse.

Stephen Bear’s Conviction and Release

Stephen Bear’s criminal case came to public attention in 2023 when he was convicted of voyeurism and two charges of sharing private sexual images and videos with the intent to cause distress. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison, though he was released in January 2024 after serving approximately half of his sentence. Despite his release, the damage caused by his actions continues to affect Harrison and countless others.

A Step Toward a Safer Digital Future

Through her documentary and public advocacy, Harrison is determined to help change the way image-based abuse is treated by society and the law. Her journey from victim to activist has been incredibly challenging, but her voice continues to inspire those who have experienced similar violations. With her unwavering commitment to raising awareness, she remains hopeful that a safer, more responsible digital future is within reach.

“We need more awareness, more action from governments and tech companies, and more support for victims,” Harrison said. “We’re on the right path, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”  

Georgia Harrison gained fame through her appearances on popular UK reality TV shows, particularly "The Only Way Is Essex" (TOWIE) and "Love Island". She first appeared on TOWIE in 2016, where her lively personality and relationships caught the public's attention. Later, she rose to even greater prominence as a contestant on "Love Island" in 2017, which significantly boosted her profile.

Since then, Harrison has continued to build her public persona through various media appearances, social media presence, and advocacy work, particularly focusing on issues like image-based sexual abuse.

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