Bermuda’s Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform Kathy Lynn Simmons is reporting an increase in what she describes as “revenge porn”, especially among young people in that country.

She said the spike occurred during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic but it is only now coming to the fore.

She said in a recent address that the consequence of Bermudan children involving themselves in this type of behavior results in them being exposed, humiliated, embarrassed, or caused reputational damage.

“Undoubtedly, the stress and trauma imposed on the victims of such acts, and their families, can be far-reaching. Globally, in the gravest of cases, affected persons have contemplated, attempted, or committed suicide because of the associated distress and embarrassment,” she added.

She said with the help of the DPP, those behind the act will be apprehended.

Simmons also called on Bermudians to take steps to protect the territory’s children.

She said it appears that persons have reneged on coming forward to report revenge porn to the DPP’s office since the Criminal Code Amendment Act of 2021 came into effect

In Bermuda, it is a criminal office to “record or distribute images or video of a person carrying out private or intimate acts or showing intimate parts of their body without their knowledge or permission”.

It is also considered an office to threaten to distribute intimate images, even if such images do not exist.

A person can serve up to five years in jail if they are convicted of revenge porn.