Former Australian newsreader reveals names, identities of rape survivors without consent in new documentary

Warning: this article contains details which may upset some readers.

The ABC has been accused of putting sexual assault survivors' lives at risk by including their real names, faces and stories in a new documentary.

Silent No More is a three-part documentary about the #metoo movement in Australia, produced for the ABC.

It stars Tracey Spicer, a former newsreader turned advocate, who received thousands of stories of sexual abuse after publically appealing for women to share their experiences.

The film showed messages from victims describing graphic incidents of rape, harassment and domestic violence, without their consent.

None of the victims had any idea about the documentary, or that Spicer had shared their stories with a film crew.

Their names and faces are also shown.

"I didn't consent to [my name] being on the screen. Tracey didn't ask me," one victim told news.com.au.

She had sent Spicer a message on Facebook in March 2018, detailing being gang raped as a teenager. 

Her real name, face and message were all included in the documentary as was the specific suburb and niche industry she was working in at the time.

Another woman had her story of survival aired too. 

She is currently living in a domestic violence situation, which was also included and fully identifies the male individual, reports news.com.au.

"I was never told my story would be used or contacted by anyone at the ABC about this," she said.

Spicer said she is "utterly gutted" and apologises "deeply and unreservedly".

She would not answer why she did not seek permission from the victims before filming their messages.

Silent No More was distributed to media in early October ahead of its late November launch. 

ABC blamed "human error" for uploading an early version of the film.

 It has since been removed but the organisation won't say how many people viewed it. 

The failure has been described as "breathtaking" by lawyer Adair Donaldson.

"Abuse is about betrayal of trust," he told news.com.au. 

"When survivors have had the courage to come forward and trust someone again, it's mortifying to think this could happen."

Newshub.