Reddit, one of the sites who played a central role in The Fappening, has ruled that stolen nudes and revenge porn are now banned from the site.

In a post signed by a number of reddit’s top dogs, the new rules state that from March 10 “if a photograph, video, or digital image of you in a state of nudity, sexual excitement, or engaged in any act of sexual conduct, is posted or linked to on reddit without your permission, it is prohibited on reddit.”

The site had until now relied on a large team of moderators and admins to use their judgment in individual cases, but the stricter rules will now require express permission from the subject(s).
The new rules and the statement from reddit imply a tinge of regret at having missed the chance to enhance their reputation.

“Last year, we missed a chance to be a leader in social media when it comes to protecting your privacy — something we’ve cared deeply about since reddit’s inception. At our recent all hands company meeting, this was something that we all, as a company, decided we needed to address.”

Although the ruling may have come too late for those who have already been victims of revenge porn and sexual images posted without permission, it’s certainly a step in the right direction for a site that remains a very influential part of the net.

In a further attempt to move themselves forward, reddit will also be offering tutorials to their army of volunteer mods to increase community harmony and enforcement of the rules.

The uprising against revenge porn has gained both speed and traction across the internet. Petitions have been raised with the UK government, and a number of revenge porn ‘barons’ have been tackled for the practice.