The transnationalisation of online sexual violation: The case of 'revenge pornography' as a theoretical and political problematic

Online sexual abuse and violation concern matters of sexuality and violence, through the medium of new information and communication technologies. Online abuse and violation are produced in two main ways: by those posting and via online platforms and technologies, in some cases those purpose-built for ‘revenge porn’. Transnationalisation of violence and abuse is facilitated by the Dark Web, an encrypted network of secret websites, making it much more difficult to control, police, or even know the extent to the problem. Online sexual violation involves practices of moving data, messages, and visuals across national boundaries creating transnational divergences between the web hosting base, the posting, and the viewing/consumption of that posted and creating a need for transnational legal, regulatory controls and interventions. The theoretical and political problematic of online sexual violation assists rethinking transnational processes more generally and in multiple ways – in production, consumption, and interventions; between and beyond nations; and in the creation of new configurations and phenomena online-offline.