People who take photos of the victims of accidents or fights and share them on social media will face prosecution and possible jail time if draft legislation drawn up by GroenLinks-PvdA and CDA MPs becomes law.

The MPs say the impact of the images on relatives and victims is great. “People often don’t realise how traumatising it is to keep seeing the images pop up on Instagram, TikTok or X,” PvdA-GroenLinks MP Songül Mutluer said.

CDA MP Derk Boswijk said the images were shared “for fun” and called the practice “too callous for words”.

The MPs are proposing a fine of €9,000 or a maximum one-year jail term for the offence.

PvdA-GroenLinks and the CDA have been calling for legislation to make sharing images of accidents for the last seven years but the plan was criticised by advisory body Council of State which suggested a legal ban would infringe on the right to share information.

The Council of State said it doubted whether such a ban could be policed. The MPs have now tightened up their draft law to apply to the first person to share the images. Victims must be recognisable and failure to consult police or relatives will also ensure prosecution.

The MPs are counting on the support of coalition parties PVV and VVD to ensure majority support.