Your body. Your consent. Always.
Image-based abuse—often referred to as “revenge porn”—is the sharing or threat of sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent. It is a serious violation of privacy, trust, and autonomy, and it can cause deep emotional harm and long-term trauma.
This abuse is never the victim’s fault. No one ever “asks for it” by sharing a photo in confidence.
What Is Image-Based Abuse?
Image-based abuse includes:
- Sharing intimate images or videos without consent
- Threatening to post intimate images to control, shame, or silence you
- Uploading or sending images to others as a form of punishment or humiliation
- Using fake accounts to distribute or impersonate you online
- Secretly filming sexual activity, including during consensual sex
- Coercing someone to send nude or sexual images (“sextortion”)
This type of abuse can happen in romantic relationships, friendships, after breakups, or by strangers online.
What the Law Says (UK)
In the UK, it is a criminal offence under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 to:
- Disclose private sexual images of someone without their consent and with the intent to cause distress
In 2021, laws were expanded to include:
- Threats to share intimate images even if the image is never posted
- Deepfakes and digitally altered sexual images
You can report image-based abuse to the police, and there are services that can help remove content and protect your privacy.
Common Tactics and Red Flags
Image-based abuse is often used as a form of coercive control, especially in abusive relationships. Abusers may:
- Demand nude photos or videos and then use them to manipulate or control you
- Say things like “If you leave me, I’ll send these to your parents”
- Post explicit photos to “punish” you after a breakup
- Share content with peers to humiliate or isolate you
- Use explicit images to blackmail you for money or sex
“He said if I didn’t do what he asked, he’d leak everything to my job and family. I was terrified until I got help.”
— Hannah, survivor of image-based abuse
The Impact of Image-Based Abuse
Survivors often experience:
- Anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts
- Fear of judgement, shame, or blame
- Isolation from friends, family, or work
- Long-term distrust in relationships
- Damage to reputation, career, or education
- Online harassment or bullying
It’s important to remember: You did nothing wrong. The shame belongs to the perpetrator, not the survivor.
What You Can Do
If someone has shared or threatened to share intimate images of you:
- Save evidence – Screenshots, messages, links, usernames
- Do not engage – Block the abuser if possible
- Report the abuse – To police or trusted safeguarding contacts
- Contact legal or specialist support – Many services offer help with takedown requests and emotional support
- Reach out – Speak to someone you trust. You don’t have to go through this alone
Support Services
We can support you to:
- Report image-based abuse safely
- Remove intimate content from websites or social media
- Access emotional and mental health support
- Understand your legal rights and options
- Protect your digital safety and privacy
If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Tips for Digital Safety
- Use two-factor authentication on all devices and accounts
- Set your social media profiles to private
- Avoid storing intimate images in shared cloud services
- Use a trusted friend’s contact for sensitive messages
- Be wary of pressure or coercion to “prove” trust with photos
You have the right to control your body and your image—online and offline.
For Parents, Educators, and Professionals
We offer training and resources to help schools, youth workers, and safeguarding teams:
- Understand image-based abuse and online exploitation
- Respond safely and without blame
- Support young people affected by peer-to-peer sharing or sextortion
- Promote healthy digital relationships and consent education