Cyber flashing will become a crime, with people who send unwanted genital photos expected to face prison time.

Previously, ministers had been considering making the act an offence under the Online Harms Bill, which is going through parliament at the moment.

However, The Times has reported the government will instead use the Sexual Offences Act, which is a smaller piece of legislation, over fears they will struggle to get the online bill passed this year.

Cyber flashing involves the sending of obscene pictures to others over peer-to-peer Wi-Fi networks, such as AirDrop.

Some people use the facility to send obscene pictures to strangers, often while they travel on trains or buses.

It made headlines back in 2015 after 34-year-old Lorraine Crighton-Smith received images of a stranger’s penis on her phone while sitting on a train in London.

Sky News understands the government hopes to enshrine the offence into an existing piece of legislation as soon as possible.

Once made illegal, it will carry a punishment in line with similar crimes, such as upskirting, meaning perpetrators could face up to two years behind bars.

It also means those found guilty of cyber flashing could be added to the sex offenders register.

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At the end of last month, justice minister Victoria Atkins told MPs the government “absolutely supports” cyber flashing being made a criminal offence.

She said: “We are carefully considering an offence along the lines of that proposed by the Law Commission.

“My honourable friend the member for Brecon and Radnorshire asked whether the Online Safety Bill might be the vehicle through which that law was brought about.

“We are actively looking at that, but we very much understand the need for speed and, indeed, the wish of women and girls around the country for the issue to be dealt with quickly and effectively.”

She added that the government is “looking to identify a legislative vehicle” as it aims to “introduce a new, specific offence to criminalise it.”

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Last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said cyber flashing should be made illegal.

Online sexual harassment more common among younger age groups

In March last year, The UN Women UK 2021 YouGov survey found that 17% of UK women online experienced online comments or jokes that made them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

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A total of 14% experienced the sharing of suggestive, indecent, or unsolicited content online or in person.

These incidences of sexual harassment are more prevalent among 18 to 24-year-olds, the report stated.

It added that it was “likely” incidents are likely to have risen as women and girls spent more time online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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