Former dominatrix develops image tracking technology to fight online abuse

Madelaine Thomas, a professional dominatrix from Monmouthshire, has transitioned into the tech world after experiencing the unauthorized leak of her private images. Motivated by anger and a desire to take control, she founded Image Angel, a company specializing in invisible forensic watermarking technology designed to track and identify individuals who share intimate images without consent. The system embeds a unique, invisible watermark into each image when it is viewed, enabling victims and platforms to trace the source if the image is leaked. The technology is resistant to screenshots, edits, and re-photographing, providing a powerful deterrent against image-based abuse. Image Angel has quickly gained recognition, receiving awards and being highlighted in Baroness Bertin’s pornography review as a model of best practice. Thomas, who has worked as a dominatrix for a decade, says her work taught her about consent, empowerment, and respect—values she carries into her new venture. The article also features comments from experts at the Revenge Porn Helpline, who underscore the emotional impact of intimate image abuse and stress the importance of victim-blaming prevention. Campaigner and presenter Jess Davies shares her own experiences with non-consensual image sharing, advocating for shifting the blame from victims to perpetrators. Thomas hopes her innovation will not only help track abusers but also act as a deterrent, contributing to a broader, multi-layered approach against tech-facilitated gender-based violence.