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Save the context around the image: where it appeared, the account or sender, dates and times, relevant messages or threats, the URL, and your reports to the platform. Do not copy or store the intimate image unless local authorities advise that it is safe and lawful—especially if anyone depicted may have been under 18. You can report what happened even if you cannot safely capture evidence.

What to record

Create a private incident log. Describe the material in words rather than copying it; note whether it appears altered or AI-generated if that is relevant. Keep information factual, and record the time zone when you know it.

  • Where it appeared: the platform, app, website, group, account, and full page or post URL. Add a direct content or message link if available.
  • Who was involved: the sender or poster’s displayed name, username, user ID, and other identifying account details shown by the service.
  • When and what happened: when you found the content, what was sent, posted, written, or said, and whether it appears elsewhere.
  • Related communications: messages, threats, demands, extortion attempts, or follow-up contact. In sextortion cases, the UK National Crime Agency also advises preserving relevant messages and bank account details.
  • Reports and help sought: each platform or agency contacted, the submission date and time, any case or confirmation number, replies or removal actions, and any instructions received.

RAINN recommends noting who posted the content, where and when you found it, and whether threats or extortion were involved. The Metropolitan Police evidence guidance similarly lists sender names, usernames, user IDs, the platform, timing, and details of what was sent, written, or spoken.

Do not put yourself at risk to collect evidence

If documenting or storing material could expose you to further harm, skip that step and report what happened. A trusted friend can help with documentation or reporting if you want support. The Metropolitan Police says you can report without captured evidence; ask local police or a support service what they recommend preserving and how to handle anything already saved. If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.

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Take extra care if anyone depicted may be under 18

The Metropolitan Police warns not to screenshot, record, or share an intimate image or video if you are unsure that everyone depicted is 18 or older; it says doing so could be a criminal offence. Do not download, forward, or otherwise make another copy in that situation. Police can advise what evidence to keep and when to delete it, and the guidance says material should not be kept longer than needed.

If someone under 18 is involved, seek help from a trusted adult and use an appropriate child-safety reporting route. The NCA points under-18s to a trusted adult and police, and identifies Childline/IWF Report Remove and NCMEC Take It Down as support tools. The appropriate route can depend on where you live and when the image was made.

Keep URLs and evidence private

Save the location of the material so you can identify it in a report, but do not circulate the link. The NCA advises collecting URLs and links when images were shared online while not sharing those links with anyone else. Submit them only through official reporting instructions. Do not repost or forward the image to prove that it exists.

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Report the specific content and keep the report trail

Start with the platform

Use the platform’s own reporting option for the specific post, image, account, or sexual-abuse content. Record when you submitted the report and retain any confirmation, case number, response, or removal notice. RAINN maintains a directory of reporting routes for online platforms; forms and availability can change.

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Contact local authorities or a relevant agency

Police and national reporting routes depend on your location and circumstances. For UK sextortion, the NCA advises adults to contact local police, call 999 if in immediate danger, and use 101 otherwise. In the United States, FTC guidance identifies local law enforcement and the FBI as routes for reporting a perpetrator. Follow current local instructions, particularly before preserving or deleting intimate material.

Know that removal rules vary by location

In the United States, FTC guidance says covered platforms must provide a route to report covered intimate images, including deepfakes, and remove covered images and copies within 48 hours of a valid request under the Take It Down Act. If a covered platform has not removed the content within that period, the FTC directs users to its Take It Down reporting service. This is a US rule for covered platforms, not a worldwide removal deadline. The FTC also notes that only platforms can take down images and videos shared without consent.

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For India, a November 11, 2025 Press Information Bureau release describes the MeitY non-consensual intimate imagery standard operating procedure as providing for takedown within 24 hours, with reporting avenues including intermediaries and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. This describes the cited Indian process; follow current official instructions for your case. Procedures and deadlines elsewhere may differ.

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Hashing services: an additional option, not a complete safeguard

Hashing services can help participating platforms identify matching copies without sending the original image or video to the service described by RAINN. Their reach is limited to participating services, and altered versions may need separate treatment. They do not replace platform reports, police guidance, or other steps you may need to take.

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Service When it may apply Important distinction
Take It Down RAINN describes it for images or videos taken when the person depicted was under 18. Eligibility depends on the person’s age when the content was made; it is a hashing tool, not a general removal guarantee.
StopNCII RAINN describes it for adults 18 or older. Matching is limited to participating platforms and the relevant image or video version.

For either option, use the service’s current instructions and do not upload or create a copy if doing so could be unsafe or unlawful.

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