What is intimate image abuse?
Intimate image abuse is the act of sharing private sexual content without consent with the intent to cause that individual distress.
What is a 'private sexual image'?
Under the legal definition;
A photograph or film is "private" if -
- it shows something that is not of a kind ordinarily seen in public.
A photograph or film is “sexual” if -
- it shows all or part of an individual’s exposed genitals or pubic area,
- it shows something that a reasonable person would consider to be sexual because of its nature, or
- its content, taken as a whole, is such that a reasonable person would consider it to be sexual.
What's the difference between 'private' and 'professional' content?
When intimate images are uploaded to a public forum (such as Adultwork or OnlyFans) the images would not be included under the current UK law of disclosing intimate images without consent, this is because the images are not classified as 'private' and instead, are considered professionally created images.
Example case studies
To put this into context, here are some example case studies of how this might play out in real-life scenarios.
Charlie has sent a private sexual image to the person they are dating. Charlie later finds out from a friend that the person they are dating has posted this image on an adult website without their consent or knowledge.
Alex is being threatened by their current partner that if they leave the relationship, he will share private sexual images which were sent during their relationship to friends and family.
Is this against the law?
In the UK, it is an offence to share and threaten to share private sexual images and videos without consent and with the intention to cause that individual distress. The laws are slightly across the UK from country to country, you can find links to the legislation below.
Our project aims to provide advice for those living in the UK, you can find further advice for victims of intimate image abuse living elsewhere worldwide.
What to do if you have had private sexual content shared without your consent
We know this can be a very distressing and upsetting time, it's important to be kind to yourself and take care. The Revenge Porn Helpline is funded to support all UK adult victims of intimate image abuse, you're not alone and help is out there.
You haven’t done anything wrong and what’s happened is not your fault. You are not alone and we are here to help you. We know it’s easier said than done but try to keep calm and follow this advice.
If you find your intimate images or videos have been shared somewhere online without your consent and you are over 18 and live in the UK, please get in touch. In order for us to help with removing content, we will need one or two direct links to where the content has been shared and we can go from there.
Take screenshots of the intimate content that has been shared online. Try and include the URL (website address), times and dates of when it was posted and any details of who it was posted by. Keep copies of any public or private messages (texts, emails, call logs), especially those of a threatening nature, together with the dates and times they were sent.
Sometimes if this has been going on for an extended period of time or if there are other concerning behaviours like harassment or abuse, it may be a good idea to create a timeline of events in as much detail as possible.
We understand that the first reaction you may have is to want to delete all the content immediately. This is your choice, but we do advise that if you want to seek legal action it may be best to contact the police first before reporting the content and risk having evidence removed prematurely.
Report to the Police.
It’s against the law in the UK to share someone’s intimate content without their consent with the intent to cause distress. You can get in touch with the police using their non-emergency 101 number or the online reporting form for your police force.
Remember, you are a victim of crime. Be prepared that they may not know the best way to deal with your problem, but you should always expect a non-biased, non-judgemental response.
Make sure you keep a record of your log/case number so the police can quickly access your details if you want to add additional information or get an update on the investigation. It will also save you having to repeat what has happened over and over which may be distressing for you.
If you are in any immediate threat of physical danger or risk, call 999.
We work alongside the SPITE project at Queen Mary University London who provides free legal advice for victims of intimate image abuse and have had private sexual images taken, threatened to be shared, or shared without consent.
On most social media platforms and reputable adult sites, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos will be a breach of their community standards
The Revenge Porn Helpline can help with the reporting of intimate content shared without consent. Please provide a direct URL to where this has been shared and we can help to report this on your behalf. We can never guarantee any removals but we hold a very high takedown rate.
To find content, you can use reverse image searching tools to locate where an image has been shared or where it is located online. Most search engines will have an image searching function.
Contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for support with reporting content
We understand how distressing online crimes can be and encourage all victims to reach out and get extra support if they need it. You’re not alone and help is out there.