LAWS could be expanded to criminalise the sharing of downblouse images and altered deepfakes without consent, the body responsible for reviewing legislation has said.

A consultation by the Law Commission is considering proposals to improve protections for victims whose intimate images have been taken or shared without their consent.

The commission is looking at expanding current legislation covering upskirting to include downblousing and deepfakes – in which existing images and videos of a person are manipulated to depict acts they have not carried out.

The Law Commission is also considering criminalising threats to share intimate images, while also creating legislative support so automatic anonymity is granted for all victims of intimate image abuse, also known as revenge porn.

Professor Penney Lewis, criminal law commissioner at the commission, said current legislation did not adequately protect victims from predatory behaviour and “reform is clearly needed”.

In proposals to be published today, the commission suggests a new graded framework which includes a base offence of taking or sharing an intimate image without consent, doing so with the intention to humiliate the victim, doing so for sexual gratification, or causing the victim to fear the image will be shared.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ victims’ co-lead Julia Mulligan welcomed the recommendation to extend anonymity to all victims of intimate image abuse, saying it was “absolutely the right one”.

“I welcome their report, not just for this conclusion but for all their attempts to future-proof laws so they reflect the way technology is changing our world,” said Ms Mulligan, who is also North Yorshire Police, Fire and Crime commissioner.

“Changing the law will mean the system no longer causes pain and distress to those who it should be protecting. It will support victims not stigmatise them, is long overdue and now needs to happen as soon as possible.”

A Government spokesperson said: “No one should have to suffer the distress of these cruel acts which is why we have already introduced new laws on ‘revenge porn’ and ‘upskirting’.

“We will carefully consider these proposals to make sure our laws keep pace with emerging crimes.”

A survey commissioned by Refuge previously found that one in 14 adults in England and Wales had experienced threats to share intimate images or videos.

Earlier this month, campaigners greeted moves in Parliament to make it a criminal offence for people to threaten to share naked, sexual or explicit pictures of videos of another person without their consent.

The matter will be back before MPs in the coming weeks.

The commission will continue to hear from stakeholders until May 27, after which it will develop final recommendations.