These are types of image-based abuse whereby images or videos are shared or threatened to be shared without consent.
Sextortion or sexual extortion is a form of blackmail where someone tricks or pressures you into sending sexual images of yourself (sexting) and then threatens to share the images unless you comply with their demands. Usually, these demands are for money or for more images/videos. People usually think of ‘revenge porn’ as someone sharing intimate images or videos after a breakup to get revenge on their ex. Sharing sexually explicit materials without consent is against the law and can cause significant harm.
Other types of image-based abuse
- Taking sexual photos or videos of someone without their permission. For example, secretly filming sexual activity or taking an image up a person’s skirt (‘upskirting’).
- Sharing sexual photos or videos of someone without their permission. For example, texting a nude pic of your partner to your friend or sharing sexual pics or videos of someone else that were sent to you.
- Uploading a video of consensual sexual activity to a porn website that you don’t have permission to share.
- Creating sexually explicit images/videos of a person using Photoshop or AI.
- Creating or sharing nude or sexual images or videos of someone under 18 years of age.
- Stealing intimate photos or videos from someone else’s device or computer.
If you’re a victim of image-based abuse, here’s what we have to SAY!
- Know that it’s not your fault – even if you shared the intimate images or videos voluntarily with them in the first place.
- Sextortion can happen to anyone, and no one deserves to be abused.
- Do not send money or more images/videos if you are being blackmailed.
- Do not keep chatting/responding to the abuser. Cut off all contact and block them (after you’ve taken evidence).
- Take screenshots of the conversation, but not the explicit material itself as this can be an offence if the person in them is under 18.
- Keep a record of any social media details, such as account profiles, usernames, etc.
- Tell a trusted adult and report it.
