Dealing With Revenge Porn and Sextortion

Revenge porn and sextortion can have devastating consequences for victims. They involve sharing or threatening to share intimate images without consent. This guide provides key information and practical tips to protect yourself online, respond to threats, remove images, and heal from the trauma.

What Is Revenge Porn and Sextortion?

Revenge porn is when intimate images are publicly shared online without the consent of the pictured individual. This is typically done by an ex-partner seeking revenge after a breakup.

Sextortion involves threats to release intimate images unless demands for money or more images are met. Sextortion is a form of blackmail.

Both revenge porn and sextortion are cybercrimes. Victims experience humiliation, anxiety, depression, loss of trust, and thoughts of suicide.

How Revenge Porn Happens

• Ex-partners may seek revenge after a bad breakup by posting your private images online. They want to hurt, humiliate, and exert control.
• Hackers steal images from cloud storage or devices and share them on porn sites.
• The images can spread quickly on social media through shares.

How Sextortion Begins

• Criminals obtain private images then threaten to release them unless demands are met.
• Images may be hacked, shared from previous relationships, captured through hidden cameras, or sent under false pretenses.
• Most sextortion perpetrators are anonymous strangers who target many victims.

Spreading or threatening to spread intimate images without consent is illegal. You have options and support.

Protect Yourself From Revenge Porn and Sextortion

You can take proactive steps to avoid victimization and reduce risks:

Practice Caution When Sharing Images

• Never share nude or sexually explicit photos with partners you do not fully trust. Understand they may not keep them private forever.
• Do not give in to pressure or coercion to provide intimate images, even to a partner.
• Avoid including your face or identifiable features like tattoos. Crop out backgrounds that reveal personal details.
• Turn off automatic backups to cloud services like iCloud that could allow others access.

Use Strong Security Measures

• Password protect devices and accounts. Use two-factor authentication.
• Store private images securely using encryption apps. Never upload them to public platforms.
• Limit app permissions so social media and messaging apps cannot access all data.
• Use antivirus software and keep systems and apps up-to-date.

Be Wary of False Identities

• Chat partners may pretend to be someone else to obtain private photos. Verify identities first.
• Romance scammers build relationships under false pretenses to extort money and images. Go slowly with online partners.

Recognize Red Flags

• Partners who pressure, coerce, or threaten you to share intimate media are dangerous. End contact.
• Any threats to release images if demands are not met signal malicious intent.

Protecting your privacy begins with caution, strong security, and avoiding pressure. You are not to blame if victimized.

What to Do If You Are a Victim

If you are targeted by revenge porn or sextortion, take action right away:

Do Not Panic or Pay Demands

• Recognize that the perpetrator is responsible – this is not your fault. Try to remain calm.
• If demands are made under threat, never pay. This may lead to further demands and does not guarantee images will stay private.

Collect Evidence

• Document everything related to the crime – messages, images, usernames, posts. Screenshot and save everything.
• Identify the perpetrator if possible. Contact information, account details, and metadata within images can help.

Report Images and Accounts

• Report unauthorized intimate images and fake accounts to the involved platforms. This helps facilitate removal.
• File reports even if the content has already been taken down, as it may resurface. Continually monitor.
• Ask others who have shared the content to delete it. Report anyone refusing to comply.

Contact Authorities

• File a report with the police. Revenge porn and sextortion are crimes. Provide all documented evidence.
• Contact the FBI if images were shared across state lines or overseas. They investigate sextortion and cybercrimes.
• Consider contacting a lawyer. They can issue cease and desist letters and advise you legally.

Acting quickly helps limit exposure and build a strong case against the perpetrator. Removing images takes persistence.

Getting Intimate Images Removed from the Internet

Once private images are shared online, it takes diligence to get them deleted. Here are key steps:

Understand How Content Spreads

• Images spread through many sources – social media, texts, emails, websites, chat apps, cloud storage.
• On the internet, content is quickly duplicated. Deletions from one site do not guarantee it is gone everywhere.

Know Your Rights

• Revenge porn laws prohibit sharing explicit media without consent and provide victims’ rights.
• The DMCA allows you to request removal of copyrighted intimate images shared without permission.

Submit Takedown Notices

• Report images and ask platforms to remove them under their terms of service or legal policies.
• File DMCA takedown notices to search engines and hosts if images are copyrighted by you.
• Contact web hosts and ask them to remove or block access to revenge porn sites sharing your content.

Use Tools to Find Photos

• Services like Sextortion can search and report unauthorized intimate media on your behalf.
• Enable Google Alerts on your name, username, and any identifying details to monitor new appearances.

Persistently submitting takedown notices is often required to combat duplication and reposting. Enlist help from professionals if needed.

Coping With Stress, Anxiety, and Trauma

Being victimized by revenge porn or sextortion can severely impact mental health and self-esteem. Give yourself time to heal:

Know You Are Not to Blame

• Do not internalize any shame. The perpetrator is fully responsible.
• Challenge negative self-talk and feelings of guilt. Seek support and validation from loved ones.

Limit Exposure to Negative Reactions

• Avoid directly searching your name or viewing malicious posts, as repeated exposure causes further trauma.
• Temporarily deactivate social media accounts and use tools like Sextortion to monitor and remove content.

Talk to a Mental Health Professional

• Trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts are common responses. Seek counseling and support.
• Join a support group with others who have experienced similar situations and understand the emotional toll.
• Contact the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative for referrals to informed therapists.

Practice Self-Care and Stress Relief

• Make time for activities and relationships that comfort you and boost self-esteem.
• Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or therapeutic journals.
• Get regular exercise, plenty of sleep, proper nutrition, and avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Healing takes time and professional support. With perseverance and caring help, you can move forward.

Legal Recourse for Victims

Laws prohibiting revenge porn and providing victims’ rights are steadily improving. Here are options to consider:

Familiarize Yourself with Local Revenge Porn Laws

• Over 40 U.S. states now include revenge porn as a criminal offense. Penalties range from misdemeanor to felony charges.
• Some states allow victims to pursue civil lawsuits against perpetrators. Consult an attorney to understand your rights.

File a Restraining Order

• Courts may issue a restraining order prohibiting an ex from distributing intimate media. This also builds a case for stalking and harassment charges.

Notify Websites Hosting Intimate Images

• Under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, websites are not liable for third-party provided content, but may face penalties if they do not remove the content after being notified.
• Consult an attorney to craft a notification letter to hosts demanding removal. Noncompliance can be used as grounds to seek damages.

Seek Compensation Through Civil Lawsuits

• Victims may be able to sue perpetrators for causing emotional distress or violating privacy rights. Punitive damages may be awarded.
• If websites fail to comply with removal requests, file a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for harm incurred.

While cases can be challenging, civil action allows victims to regain power and justice. Perpetrators should be held accountable.

What Friends and Family Can Do to Help Victims

If someone close to you is targeted by revenge porn or sextortion, here are some ways to support them:

Listen Without Judgment

• Avoid victim-blaming. The perpetrator is fully responsible. Provide empathy, validation and reassurance.
• Allow them to share feelings and process the trauma. Respect their privacy boundaries.

Encourage Reporting

• Advise them to immediately report to platforms, authorities, attorneys, and removal services. Timeliness is crucial.
• Offer to help document evidence. Collecting details methodically allows for quicker takedowns.

Suggest Mental Health Support

• Remind them this is not their fault and there are professionals trained to help process the trauma.
• Research counselors knowledgeable about cyber exploitation. Accompany them to appointments if requested.

Limit Exposure

• Have them hand over devices and accounts to you temporarily so they are not directly exposed to malicious content.
• Disable, monitor, and filter their social media and emails to avoid repeated trauma.
• Search their name online and report unauthorized images and accounts on their behalf.

With active support and compassion, victims can move forward while you handle damage control. Be patient – healing takes time.

The Outlook for Progress

While sextortion and nonconsensual pornography remain serious problems today, there are signs of progress:

Evolving Legislation

• Revenge porn laws are now on the books in most U.S. states and ban malicious distribution of intimate media. More comprehensive federal legislation has bipartisan support.

Increased Law Enforcement Action

• The FBI and national agencies are prioritizing investigations into sextortion networks and child sexual exploitation facilitated through this practice. International cooperation among law enforcement agencies continues to improve.

Expanding Rights and Options for Survivors

• Laws allowing victims to pursue civil action against perpetrators are rising. More resources like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative empower survivors to seek justice.

Greater Public Awareness

• Mainstream media coverage of celebrity cases is helping frame revenge porn and sextortion as intolerable abuses, not embarrassing faux pas of victims. More violators are facing social consequences.
• Educational campaigns teach minors and young adults to practice caution online and report threats.

While technology evolves rapidly, human compassion and determination can keep pace. Victims must not have to face these adversities alone. With vigilance, care and justice can prevail.

In Conclusion

• Revenge porn and sextortion constitute profound betrayals and cyber exploitation. But help and hope are available.
• Take preventive measures to guard privacy. Report images and accounts persistently. Seek professional support and legal counsel.
• Healing takes time and perseverance. With the right assistance, victims can move forward.
• Public attitudes, laws, and enforcement continue improving to better protect, empower and stand up for victims.

No one deserves malicious violation of consent and privacy. But there are people, professionals and services prepared to support victims on the path to recovery and justice.