IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 20, Issue 10, Ver. III (Oct. 2015) PP 75-80 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-201037580 www.iosrjournals.org 75 | Page Applying the Law to Tackle the Menace of Revenge Porn in Nigeria: Lessons from the United Kingdom Augustine E. Arimoro* Abstract: The use of the internet and social media in the modern era is wide spread across the globe. By the mere click of a mouse or the push of a button on computers, mobile phone devices or electronic tablets messages or information could be sent across the entire universe whether as emails, status upload or message broadcast. While the use of the internet and social media platforms are now in vogue in terms of the dissemination of messages and also as an avenue for keeping in-touch with friends, colleagues and loved ones, these tools have become handy for jilted lovers or blackmailers to cause distress to others in the form of revenge porn. While the UK government has acted swiftly to delineate the crime by passing a new law to check the crime in April 2015, their Nigerian counterpart is yet to specifically define revenge porn.This paper argues that the punishment for the crime in the UK is not deterring enough. It also calls on individuals to desist from keeping keeping their nude photos or videos. The paper concludes by recommending that Nigeria should learn from the UK and delineate the crime of revenge porn urgently in order to check the spread of the menace. However, the paper notes that the punishment for revenge porn should not be less than the current prescribed punishment provided for under extant laws in the country. KeyWords:Revenge Porn; Crime; Internet; Social Media; Deterrence; Punishment I. Introduction With the advent of the internet and the social media, it has become relatively easy to disseminate messages, information, news and pictures (which could be still or moving). The wide reach of the internet globally is such that whichever material is uploaded on it can be viewed or listened to across the entire continents of the world simply by the click of a computer mouse or by the use of devices such as mobile phones or tablets. In contemporary times, the internet has served as a tool for faster reach to targeted recipients of messages especially social media channels that allow for broadcast. Social media channels and the internet are tools that could be utilised to play both positive and negative roles in the society. While the internet and the social media are not necessarily bad, they could become a means of perpetrating evil by an aggrieved lover or a blackmailer. The broadcast channels of social media have been used to warn people of danger; to broadcast breaking news; send out updates; communicate work related information. For example, company staff using applications like WhatsApp or the blackberry messenger to exchange or file reports. The effect of the social media and internet on social life has been the subject of interesting discussions. According to Bargh and McKenna: “It is a mass medium: Like radio and television (and unlike the telephone or telegraph), content and advertising can reach millions of people at the same time. It has been vilified as a powerful new tool for the devil, awash in pornography, causing users to be addicted to hours each day of “surfing” ---hours during which they are away from their family and friends, resulting in depression and loneliness for the individual user, and further weakening neighborhood and community ties. It has been hailed by two U.S. presidents as the ultimate weapon in the battle against totalitarianism and tyranny, and credited by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan with creating a “new economy.” It was denounced by the head of the Miss France committee as “an uncontrolled medium where rumormongers, pedophiles, prostitutes, and criminals could go about their business with impunity” after it facilitated the worldwide spread of rumors that the reigning Miss France was, in fact, a man (Reuters 2001)” 1 Tyler posits that the usage of the internet could potentially lead to weaker social ties in the sense that people may have no need to leave their homes to meet with friends or family. It would just be enough to be on *Doctoral Candidate, Kingston Law School, Faculty of Business and Law, Kingston University London, +447405518930, augustine.arimoro1@gmail.com or K1443540@kingston.ac.uk The author is grateful to A/Prof Francis Arimoro and Rev Samuel Arimoro for their insightful suggestions and contributions. Special thanks to Dr Peter Orji for scholarly support. The author takes responsibility for errors. 1 JA Bargh & KYA McKenna, „The Internet and Social Life‟ available at <<http://www.yale.edu/acmelab/articles/Internet_and_Social_Life.pdf >> accessed 22 September 2015.