Intimate Images Shared or Deepfake Created
You did not cause this. There are specific tools and legal options that can help. Here is what to do and in what order.
A Threat That Came from Nowhere
Leila was 22 and in her second year of university.
She had never shared intimate images with anyone. So when a message arrived from an unknown account telling her that "photos" existed and would be sent to her family and university unless she paid 500 euros, she assumed it was a scam aimed at the wrong person.
Then the message included a screenshot. It was her face, on a body that was not hers. The sender had taken photos from her public Instagram and used AI tools to create something that looked real.
Leila did not pay. But she spent three days paralysed by fear before she told anyone. She did not know where to report it, whether anyone would believe her, or what the image had already been shared.
Eventually a friend showed her StopNCII.org. Within a week, the hash of the image had been distributed to major platforms. A report was filed with her local police. The account was banned.
The image, as far as she knows, was never shared with anyone she knows. The threat was the mechanism, not the images.
What Is Happening Now
400%
increase in reports of non-consensual intimate image sharing between 2022 and 2024
The majority of new cases involve AI-generated imagery created from social media photos, with no original intimate image required.
Source: Revenge Porn Helpline, 2025Over 95% of All Deepfake Content Is Non-Consensual Pornography
AI tools now require only a clear social media photo to generate realistic intimate imagery. Women are targeted in over 99% of documented cases. The UK criminalised creating deepfake intimate images in 2024.
Only 1 in 12 Victims Reports to Police
Shame and fear of not being believed are the most common reasons for not reporting. Specialist units exist within most forces specifically for image-based abuse. A report does not require you to view the content again.
StopNCII.org Has Helped Remove 200,000+ Images
The service creates a digital fingerprint (hash) of an image without uploading it and shares that hash with partner platforms to block re-upload. It works with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, and more. It is free and confidential.
Paying Almost Always Escalates Demands
Payment signals that the threat works. Documented cases consistently show demands increasing after initial payment. The threat is the business model - not the images themselves. Do not pay.
Platform Takedowns: Where to Start
Report to the platform immediately. Most major platforms have a dedicated path for non-consensual intimate images. You do not need to view or download the content to report it.
- Meta (Facebook/Instagram): Help Center > Report a problem > Non-consensual intimate images
- Google: Search "Google Remove explicit content" - they have a dedicated form
- Twitter/X: Help Center > Report a post > Intimate media shared without consent
- TikTok: Long press the video > Report > Sexual content
After reporting, use StopNCII.org. The hash can be created from an image you have seen or one that has been described to you. It prevents the same image from being re-uploaded across all partner platforms at once.
For content involving anyone under 18, also report to NCMEC CyberTipline at cybertipline.org - this applies even if the image is AI-generated.
Law Enforcement: What to Report and How
In most countries, sharing non-consensual intimate images is now a criminal offence - including AI-generated deepfakes. You do not need to know who the person is to file a report.
Before you report, gather:
- Screenshots of the threat message (not the images themselves)
- The sender's username and account URL
- Dates and timestamps of all contact
- Any payment demands
Bring this to your local police or file online:
- India: cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930
- UK: Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk, or 101 for local police
- US: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
- Australia: eSafety Commissioner at esafety.gov.au
Ask for a case reference number. This enables support organisations to help you request platform data and coordinate with law enforcement.
Legal Options
Emergency injunctive relief can be sought to prevent further sharing while a case is being investigated. A solicitor or legal aid service can apply for this quickly.
Civil claims are possible in some jurisdictions where sharing has caused demonstrable harm to employment, relationships, or mental health. These run separately from criminal proceedings.
Free legal help:
- UK: Revenge Porn Helpline (0345 6000 459) can connect you with specialist solicitors
- US: Cyber Civil Rights Initiative at cybercivilrights.org provides free legal referrals
- India: iCall at 9152987821 or your State Legal Services Authority
Managing Ongoing Harassment
Do not pay. Do not respond to the sender. Any response confirms you are reachable and afraid, which increases the perceived value of continuing.
Block - but document first. Screenshot the account, the messages, and the profile URL before blocking. Blocking removes your access to that evidence.
Tell someone you trust. The threat is designed to isolate you. Telling someone breaks that isolation and removes much of the leverage. It also means you have a witness and someone who can help you act.
If the harassment continues from new accounts after blocking, each new account is an additional charge in any criminal prosecution.
Long-Term Recovery
Image-based abuse has documented psychological impacts including anxiety, depression, and PTSD-adjacent symptoms. These are normal responses to a real harm. They do not mean you are weak.
Professional counselling is effective and available:
- UK: Revenge Porn Helpline offers free counselling sessions
- US: CCRI partner therapists, many offering sliding-scale fees
- India: Vandrevala Foundation (1860-2662-345) or iCall
What most survivors report: the fear of what might happen is often worse and longer-lasting than what actually happens. Taking the first step - reporting, using StopNCII, telling someone - usually reduces that fear faster than waiting does.
Try It: Your Response Roadmap
This tool shows the six steps in order, with what to do and why at each stage. Select any step to expand the detail.
What That Just Showed You
1. The order of steps matters. Preserving evidence before blocking is one of the most common mistakes people make. Once you block, you may lose access to content that law enforcement needs.
2. StopNCII works without re-viewing the content. Many people avoid using it because they think they have to look at the image again. You do not. The hash can be generated by the service from a description, or from an image someone else holds.
3. Silence is the attacker's strongest tool. Every step in the roadmap involves telling someone - a platform, law enforcement, a support service. The threat only retains power while you are alone with it.
Three Things Worth Doing
1. Use StopNCII.org right now if this is happening to you. It is free, takes minutes, and is the fastest way to stop spread across major platforms. Go to stopcii.org.
2. Screenshot before you block. Document the sender's username, account URL, and every message with timestamps visible before removing access. Save this to a cloud-backed location you control.
3. Call a helpline before making any decisions. Revenge Porn Helpline (UK: 0345 6000 459) and CCRI Crisis Line (US: 844-878-2274) are staffed by people who handle this every day. They will not judge the situation. They will help you act.
One Question Before You Continue
You receive a message threatening to share intimate images of you unless you pay. What is the right first response?