US

Call for law change after BBC investigation reveals covert filming of women

Legislation regarding voyeurism is the subject of a proposed amendment in a private members’ bill, which seeks to prevent the online distribution of videos for financial gain.

The Liberal Democrats are advocating for legislation to prohibit the clandestine filming of women during nights out, with the intention of uploading the footage to social media platforms.

A treated image shows a stock photo of a man wearing a baseball cap while holding a phone up filming. The silhouettes of a group of women on a night out can be seen in the background. — A BBC investigation identified nearly 50 women who had been filmed without their knowledge

A private members' bill has been proposed by the party, urging the government to revise existing voyeurism laws to prevent individuals from profiting from the online distribution of such content.

The proposed bill aims to curb the proliferation of covert filming, which the party describes as an "epidemic," and seeks to compel social media platforms to remove offending content and impose permanent bans on repeat offenders.

This development follows a BBC investigation that uncovered numerous accounts on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, featuring videos that primarily targeted women, often filmed without their consent and from intrusive angles.

The government has condemned the practice of covertly filming women and girls as "reprehensible" and has pledged to prevent individuals from profiting from such activities.

The BBC investigation identified nearly 50 women who had been filmed without their knowledge or consent, highlighting the need for stronger measures to protect individuals from such exploitation.

Anna-Rose, a 29-year-old woman, was filmed on two separate occasions during nights out in Manchester, and although the original videos have been removed, copies continue to be shared online.

Anna-Rose expressed her distress, stating, "It's a violation of my privacy, and the fact that the videos can still be accessed makes me feel like I'm being constantly exposed."

The BBC discovered over 65 channels featuring similar content, which collectively garnered more than three billion views over the past three years, underscoring the scale of the issue.

According to Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, the existing laws regarding voyeurism and harassment are not sufficient to address the issue, as the videos in question occupy a "legal grey area."

A young black woman wears a black shearling aviator jacket and black scarf. She has braids and looks into the camera wearing glasses. She is standing on a busy road — Anna-Rose was filmed without her knowledge while out in Manchester

In response to the BBC investigation, Hobhouse has introduced a private members' bill seeking to amend the legislation and provide clearer guidelines on the issue.

Hobhouse emphasized the need for urgent action, stating that the government must "close the loopholes" that allow individuals to engage in covert filming and online exploitation without facing consequences.

She reiterated the importance of ensuring that the law is equipped to protect women and girls in the digital age, where online exploitation can have severe consequences.

Hobhouse, who previously played a key role in changing the law on upskirting, described the practice of secretly filming women for profit as "despicable" and emphasized the need for those responsible to be held accountable.

She stressed that everyone deserves to feel safe when socializing with friends, without the fear of being filmed and having their images shared online without consent.

While numerous private members' bills are introduced by MPs each year, only a select few become laws, and the success of Hobhouse's bill is uncertain.

At the start of each parliamentary session, 20 MPs are randomly selected to prioritize their bills, increasing their chances of becoming laws; however, Hobhouse is not among them, which may hinder the progress of her bill.

Following the BBC investigation, YouTube removed two accounts and reported that it had removed 1.8 million videos for violating its harassment policies by the end of 2025, demonstrating its efforts to enforce community guidelines.

TikTok has removed four channels identified by the BBC, and Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has also taken steps to remove content that violates its policies.

Jess Philips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, condemned the practice of covert filming, stating that individuals' privacy and safety should never be compromised, and emphasized the need for collective action to prevent such exploitation.

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Document allegedly shows Andrew provided UK briefing on Epstein’s Afghan investments

A briefing that outlines “high value commercial opportunities” in Helmand province is contained within the Epstein files.

A document allegedly sent by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Jeffrey Epstein contains details about investment prospects in Afghanistan, specifically regarding gold and uranium.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, head and shoulder picture, giving a speech in 2010 — The former Prince Andrew travelled the world as the UK's trade envoy

UK officials had prepared a briefing for Andrew, then a trade envoy, which he later forwarded to Epstein in December 2010; the document outlines "high value commercial opportunities" in Helmand province.

This revelation follows a BBC report that Andrew had labeled the document "confidential" in an email, as seen in the latest release of Epstein files.

Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to his association with Epstein, and has rejected suggestions that he used his position as trade envoy for personal gain.

Attempts have been made to obtain a comment from Andrew regarding these developments.

Sir Vince Cable, the business secretary at the time, has described Andrew's sharing of the briefing as "appalling behaviour".

Thames Valley Police are currently assessing whether to launch an investigation into the apparent sharing of documents related to Andrew's tenure as trade envoy.

In addition to the Afghan document, emails in the Epstein files suggest that Andrew also sent official reports from his trade envoy visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam to Epstein.

The emails indicate that Andrew may have shared further trade documents with Epstein, including a batch of files labeled "Overseas bids" sent immediately after the reports from his South East Asia visits.

These files are likely "Zip files" containing multiple pieces of compressed information.

The Afghan document, compiled by UK government officials for Andrew, provides an in-depth overview of investment opportunities in Helmand province during a time of significant UK military and political involvement in Afghanistan.

As noted by Andrew in his correspondence with Epstein, the document is a "confidential brief" prepared by the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province.

The briefing was prepared for Andrew during the same month he visited Helmand, where he met with UK troops.

It offers an assessment of the local economy and business opportunities, including the presence of "significant high value mineral deposits" and the potential for low-cost extraction.

The document highlights valuable natural resources such as marble, gold, iridium, uranium, and thorium, as well as potential oil and gas deposits, based on information gathered by UK government officials working on the Helmand reconstruction team.

According to official guidelines, trade envoys are expected to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive commercial or political information related to their official visits.

Sir Vince Cable has called for greater transparency regarding Andrew's activities as trade envoy, citing his own unsuccessful attempts to access Andrew's file, which he found to be empty.

Sir Vince, who played a key role in ending Andrew's tenure as trade envoy, has expressed concerns about Andrew's actions during his time in the position.

A snippet of the briefing which begins Helmand: High Value Commercial Opportunities for Foreign Investment and says Brief for HRH Duke of York: 19 December 2010

"I have twice requested to see Andrew's file from his time as trade envoy, but it is empty," Sir Vince stated.

He recalled meeting Andrew once at Buckingham Palace, where Andrew asked him to find a useful role for him, but Sir Vince declined.

Following the first public reports about Andrew's friendship with Epstein in 2011, Sir Vince decided to discontinue Andrew's role as trade envoy.

The primary function of a trade envoy is to promote UK business interests abroad and encourage investment.

A diplomatic source, speaking anonymously, suggested that a trade envoy like Andrew might have shared information with potential investors to support UK business initiatives, potentially including those in Afghanistan.

Andrew's note to Epstein mentions his intention to "offer this elsewhere in my network, including Abu Dhabi".

A former senior trade official noted that while many reports seen by a trade envoy might be routine, some meetings could produce significant commercial opportunities.

"It's possible that the documents contained important commercial information that would have been useful," the former official said.

However, the official emphasized that such documents were not intended for sharing outside of government, particularly not with individuals who might use them for personal gain.

Andrew continues to face scrutiny over his links to Epstein, following the release of new documents by the US government, including photographs of Andrew with a woman.

He is under increasing pressure to testify in the US about his connections to Epstein and has recently relocated from his Windsor home to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated that the King is prepared to support the police as they consider allegations against Andrew.

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Middle East

BBC reports from Tehran as Iran commemorates Islamic revolution anniversary

BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet has arrived in Iran, marking her first visit to the country since authorities suppressed widespread demonstrations against the government.

Iran's government has staged a display of strength to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, following a period of intense repression of anti-government demonstrations.

The BBC has gained access to Tehran for the first time since the authorities' crackdown on protests, which resulted in the deaths of at least 6,490 people, according to estimates by human rights activists.

Lyse Doucet, the BBC's chief international correspondent, observes that the capital's streets, adorned with festive decorations and filled with crowds of supporters, reflect the government's desired image of a unified nation, with Iranians demonstrating their allegiance to the Islamic Republic and its founding revolution.

Business

Over 180 survivors participate in Harrods abuse compensation scheme

Allegations of sexual harassment have been made against the late Mohamed Al Fayed, stemming from his tenure as owner.

Over 180 individuals who suffered abuse at the hands of Mohammed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, are presently participating in the company's compensation program, according to the retailer.

A close-up picture of Mohammed al Fayed.

To date, more than 50 women have received compensation payments from the luxury department store.

Launched in March of the previous year, the compensation scheme will no longer accept new submissions after March 31.

In October, Harrods allocated over £60 million for its compensation plan, which aims to provide support to victims of alleged historical abuse.

The scheme offers a standard award of £200,000 to eligible claimants; however, those who undergo an assessment by a consultant psychiatrist may be eligible to receive up to £385,000 in compensation, in addition to treatment costs.

Claimants who opt not to undergo a psychiatric assessment will receive lower compensation amounts.

Applications received by the March 31 deadline will continue to be processed thereafter.

Additionally, Harrods will continue to provide counseling support beyond the deadline, including services from the Independent Survivor Advocate.

In 2024, human rights advocate Dame Jasvinder Sanghera was appointed by Harrods to the role of Independent Survivor Advocate, with the goal of meeting with as many survivors as possible and guiding them through the compensation process.

Justice for Harrods Survivors, an organization representing some of the victims, has stated that only a fully independent process can adequately address the needs of survivors.

Mohammed Al Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010, has been accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women, with 146 individuals coming forward to report crimes to the Met Police as part of their investigation.

The Harrods Group operates several locations, including its flagship store in Knightsbridge, London, as well as smaller stores at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and a chain of beauty stores.

KP Law, which represents over 260 survivors, has expressed criticism of the Redress Scheme, citing concerns that Harrods maintains full control over the process.

Tom Fletcher, a specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, which supports some of the victims, has expressed satisfaction with the settlements secured for some of the firm's clients through the scheme.

According to Tom Fletcher, "Although no amount of compensation can fully compensate for the abuse our clients experienced, the amounts recovered under the scheme acknowledge the severity of the abuse and provide our clients with the necessary funds to access specialized support, enabling them to move forward with their lives."