How we helped stop revenge porn at work
Unauthorised sharing of private and intimate content in the workplace is a deeply distressing form of harassment that can leave victims feeling powerless and exposed. It raises complex legal and emotional challenges, especially when support from employers or authorities is lacking.
Revenge porn at work: understanding the client's situation and the legal challenges
Legal steps we took to stop the sharing of intimate material at work
Outcome: ending revenge porn in the workplace through legal action
Lawyer's thoughts about the case
Revenge porn at work: understanding the client's situation and the legal challenges
Our client, a warehouse worker in the Midlands, contacted us in fear and frustration. He believed a former housemate had hacked his devices, secretly recorded intimate footage, and distributed it among colleagues at his workplace.
The impact was immediate and distressing. He felt humiliated by the reactions of his co-workers and unsupported by his employer. Despite reporting the matter to the police and raising it internally, no action had been taken.
He had no access to the footage and couldn't prove how far it had spread. He felt trapped.
Legal steps we took to stop the sharing of intimate material at work
We focused on two clear objectives: recovering evidence and protecting our client from further harm. We advised him to make detailed Subject Access Requests (SARs). These requests were sent to his employer, demanding disclosure of any personal data relating to him, including emails, videos or internal messages.
This was an essential step to establish what material was being held and shared. It also allowed us to put an immediate halt to any further sharing, as those responsible quickly understood that their actions could have serious legal consequences. Crucially, it placed pressure on the employer to begin addressing the matter with greater speed and seriousness, ensuring that our client’s concerns were no longer ignored.
At the same time, we prepared a cease and desist letter addressed to the alleged perpetrator, whom our client believed was the instigator of the unlawful sharing. This letter set out the unlawful nature of his actions under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and warned of further legal steps if the behaviour continued or if further evidence came to light.
Outcome: ending revenge porn in the workplace through legal action
The employer responded to the SAR and disclosed data that confirmed private material had been circulated among staff. This evidence strengthened our client's position and underscored the seriousness of the breach. Throughout the process, our client remained firm in his belief that the unauthorised recording and sharing of private footage by a former housemate among his workplace colleagues were real, even when it was difficult to secure hard proof.
The outcome was, in many ways, a vindication for him, justifying his concerns and assuring him that taking legal action had made a real difference. Although the alleged perpetrator denied any wrongdoing, our cease and desist letter served as a clear warning that legal steps would follow if the harassment continued.
Our legal intervention achieved exactly what our client hoped for, to bring the matter to an end swiftly, send a clear signal that such behaviour would not be tolerated, and to do so without the publicity that a court case would almost inevitably attract. It also proved to be a cost-effective solution, sparing our client the financial and emotional toll of extended litigation.
Lawyer's thoughts about the case
Cases involving revenge porn at work present some of the most difficult challenges for a solicitor. The evidence is often scattered or hidden, clients are under immense emotional strain, and time is critical.
In this case, our client had the courage to come forward despite all of that. As lawyers, our job was to act quickly, preserve confidentiality, and apply pressure through the right legal mechanisms. The key tools, Subject Access Requests and a well-structured cease and desist letter, gave us a route to results without needing court proceedings.