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us Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations filmed without consent • photographed without consent • secret recording sexual • hidden camera sexual situation • someone took nude photo • intimate video taken • nonconsensual intimate images • image based sexual abuse • revenge porn fear • private video shared • threatened to share images • sextortion threat • deepfake sexual images • explicit images online • leaked intimate content • blackmail with photos • recorded during sex • spy cam suspicion • someone has my nudes

What to do if…
you think you were filmed or photographed in a sexual situation without consenting

Short answer

Get to a safer, calmer moment, then contact a specialist image-abuse support line and start takedown/prevention steps before you confront anyone or respond to threats.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t pay money, send gift cards, or share more images to “make it stop”.
  • Don’t keep replying to threats or bargaining (it usually increases demands).
  • Don’t forward the content to friends “to confirm” what it is (it can spread it further).
  • Don’t confront the person you suspect while you’re distressed (it can escalate and complicate your options).
  • Don’t repeatedly re-check posts or re-watch content if you find it (take practical steps, then step away).
  • If you’re being threatened with physical harm or you feel unsafe right now, call 911.

What to do now

  1. Create a safer pause. If you’re with the person you suspect, get some distance (leave, go somewhere with other people, call someone you trust). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
  2. Call the CCRI Image Abuse Helpline (free, 24/7). Tell them you think you were recorded/photographed in a sexual situation without consent and you want help with takedown and next steps. You don’t need proof before calling.
  3. If you have the actual image/video file(s), consider using StopNCII.org. It can create a “digital fingerprint” that participating platforms can use to block re-uploads. (If you don’t have the file, skip this and focus on reporting where it’s posted/sent.)
  4. If you were under 18 when any image/video was made, use NCMEC’s Take It Down tool. It’s designed for nude/sexually explicit images taken before age 18, to help participating platforms remove or block them.
  5. Report it where it appears. Use the platform’s reporting option for “non-consensual intimate imagery” (or similar). If it’s on multiple services, start with the most public/high-spread place first.
  6. If you may want to report later, preserve what you can without spreading it. Save the links/URLs, usernames, dates/times, and screenshots of the page plus URL bar and of any threats. Avoid re-sharing the content.
  7. If you’re being blackmailed or pressured online (sextortion), report it. Don’t pay. Consider reporting to local law enforcement and/or submitting a report to the FBI’s IC3 (especially if the threat is coming from online accounts and payment demands).
  8. Optional: report to the FTC for additional guidance and documentation. This can help you understand options and add a formal report, but it’s not a substitute for urgent safety help or immediate takedown steps.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to decide today whether to go to police.
  • You don’t need to “prove it” before asking for help or requesting removal.
  • You don’t need to contact the suspected person right now.
  • You don’t need to spend hours searching for every copy before starting takedowns.

Important reassurance

Feeling frozen, sick, ashamed, or frantic to “fix it” immediately is a common response to a serious violation. You’re not overreacting, and you’re allowed to move slowly and choose what you want to do next.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce harm and stabilise. Later decisions (legal options in your state, protective orders, school/work reporting, longer-term safety planning) can be made with specialist support once you’re steadier.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you feel unsafe or are being threatened, prioritize immediate safety and specialist support. If you were under 18 when any image was made, use child-safety routes and get urgent help.

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