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What to do if…
you realise an intimate video call may have been recorded without your consent

Short answer

Get yourself to a calmer, safer pause, and stop all contact with the person who may have recorded it. Then get confidential specialist support and use reporting/takedown tools to reduce the chance of sharing.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t pay, send more images, or agree to “prove” anything to make it stop (this often escalates demands).
  • Don’t threaten or negotiate back-and-forth with the person recording/pressuring you, especially in live chat.
  • Don’t delete everything in a panic if you might want help later (keep what you already have, safely).
  • Don’t post about it publicly right now (it can increase spread and stress, and complicate takedowns).
  • Don’t blame yourself for what happened, even if you agreed to the call.

What to do now

  1. Create a safer pause. If you feel in immediate danger (they know where you are, you’re being followed, or you’re scared of violence), call 999. If you’re not in immediate danger, move somewhere you feel safer (a different room, a friend’s place, anywhere you can breathe).
  2. Stop contact and slow the situation down. End the conversation, don’t reply to new messages, and consider blocking/muting the person on the app(s) they’re using to reach you.
  3. Save what you already have (light-touch). If there are messages, usernames, dates/times, payment demands, or threats, keep them somewhere safe (for example, a screenshot saved to a secure folder). You do not need to do a “full evidence pack” right now.
  4. Report it in the place it happened. Use the video/app platform’s in-app reporting options for harassment, threats, or intimate image abuse. If content has already been posted somewhere, report the post/account on that site too.
  5. Get specialist, confidential support (even if you’re unsure it was recorded).
    • Rape Crisis England & Wales has a free 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line (aged 16+) and online chat.
    • The Revenge Porn Helpline supports UK adults (18+) experiencing intimate image abuse and can help with takedown steps (phone 0345 6000 459, email help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk, typically Mon–Fri 10am–4pm).
  6. If you’re being threatened (sextortion/webcam blackmail), treat it as a crime. If you feel at immediate risk call 999. Otherwise, contact your local police on 101 (or report online via your local force). You can also report anonymously via Crimestoppers.
  7. Use a “prevent re-upload” tool if it fits (adults). If you have the image/video file and you’re worried it may be shared, consider StopNCII.org (it creates a digital fingerprint on your device to help participating platforms detect and block re-uploads). If you don’t have the file, skip this and focus on reporting/support.
  8. Reduce further access right now. Change the passwords on the email/phone accounts linked to the video app, turn on two-step verification where you can, and check the video app’s privacy settings (for example: who can contact you, whether your profile is searchable).

If you were under 18 at the time (or you’re not sure): 9. Get youth-specific help quickly. Tell a trusted adult if you can. You (or the adult) can make a report to the CEOP Safety Centre if you’re worried about online sexual abuse/grooming. If sexual images/videos of you may be online, use Report Remove (Childline/IWF) to confidentially report and try to get them removed.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to make a formal report.
  • You do not need to contact the person’s employer, family, or friends right now.
  • You do not need to “explain yourself” to anyone online or prove what happened.
  • You do not need to figure out the law, labels, or timelines before you get support.

Important reassurance

Feeling shocked, ashamed, angry, or numb is a common reaction to a boundary being violated. Recording or threatening to share intimate material is something done to you, not something you “caused”. You deserve support even if you’re uncertain about what was captured or where it could go.

Scope note

These are first steps to help you stabilise, reduce immediate harm, and connect you to specialist support. Later decisions (reporting, takedown escalation, workplace/school impacts) can be made with help, when you’re not in crisis mode.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you are in immediate danger call 999. If you were under 18 at the time of the images/video, treat this as a child protection issue and seek urgent specialist support.

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