Mariana Amaro Lourenço Ferreira Santos was the winner of the 1st edition of the whatnext.law Best Thesis Award 2025, with her dissertation “The Non-Consensual Sharing of Real and Manipulated Sexual Images: Legal Analysis and Proposal for Legislative Reform“, which WhatNext.Law is now sharing its publication.
Mariana’s work deeply impressed the jury due to the combination of practical experience gained during her court internship and the choice of an increasingly concerning topic, which the author analyzes with exceptional mastery of relevant legal doctrines, as well as the ability to propose thought-provoking interpretations of current laws and legislative reforms that deserve the attention of the legal community.
Developed within the scope of the Master’s in Litigation and Arbitration at NOVA School of Law, the dissertation addresses the growing phenomenon of the non-consensual sharing of sexual images, including content manipulated by artificial intelligence, analyzing the challenges these practices pose to Portuguese and European criminal law. The author examines the current legal framework, identifies gaps in victim protection, and proposes legislative solutions for a more effective and suitable response to digital realities.
In recognition of her merit, the winner also received a prize of €1,500, in addition to the publication of her dissertation by WhatNext.Law.
WhatNext.Law congratulates the researcher on her work.
