VAWA and Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery

While VAWA itself does not impose obligations on platforms related to content removal, it plays a crucial supportive role in the NCII legal context. VAWA funds: victim advocacy organizations that help NCII survivors; law enforcement training on technology-facilitated abuse; legal aid clinics that provide free representation to NCII victims; and research on the prevalence and impact of digital abuse. VAWA also offers civil immigration protections for non-citizen survivors and establishes grants for NCII-focused intervention programs. The 2022 VAWA reauthorization included explicit acknowledgment of technology-facilitated abuse as a form of domestic violence.

Key facts about this term

1. VAWA funds victim services available to NCII survivors Organizations funded by VAWA, including domestic violence shelters, legal aid organizations, and rape crisis centers, often provide free assistance to NCII survivors regardless of their relationship with the perpetrator.
2. VAWA recognizes tech-facilitated abuse as domestic violence The 2022 VAWA reauthorization explicitly includes technology-facilitated abuse, including NCII distribution, within the definition of domestic violence for funding and protection purposes.
3. VAWA-funded legal aid can assist with NCII cases Legal aid organizations funded by VAWA may provide free representation for NCII victims seeking protective orders, civil suits, or criminal prosecution support.