If someone shared—or threatened to share—an intimate photo or video of you without permission, report the content to the platform first. Keep a record of the report and the platform’s response, but do not repost or forward the image to document what happened. In the United States, a covered platform must remove a validly reported image and known identical copies within 48 hours; if its process is missing, broken, or does not work, you can report the platform to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The steps below also distinguish the options for adults and minors, and explain what is and is not established about preserving evidence.
1. Report the image directly to the platform
The platform is the party that can remove content from its service. If possible, use the report option on or near the post or image. Otherwise, look for the platform’s support or help-center process for intimate-image removal. The exact route varies by service and may differ depending on whether you have an account.
- Find the post or the platform’s help/support process for reporting an intimate image shared without consent.
- Submit a removal request and provide the information the platform’s form asks for. Do not use a generic copyright or community-guidelines report unless the platform’s own instructions say that route applies.
- Note when you submitted the request, along with any confirmation number or response. Practical record-keeping details are covered below.
If you do not have an account, look for a help-center process that allows reports from non-users. The FTC says that if a platform requires you to create an account to request removal, you should report that barrier to the FTC.
2. Keep a record of the report without circulating the image
Record the information you may need to follow up with the platform or make a complaint. The FTC’s platform complaint form asks which platform was involved and where the content appeared. You can keep the following details in a private note:
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- The platform’s name and, if available, the post’s location or URL.
- The date and time you submitted the removal request.
- A confirmation, case number, or copy of the platform’s response and other correspondence.
- The date and time of any follow-up or complaint you make.
These are practical notes, not a legally established evidence-preservation protocol. The FTC’s published guidance does not specify which screenshots, downloads, files, or metadata are sufficient in a criminal or civil case. Do not repost, forward, or upload intimate images to document the incident. If a minor may be depicted, do not route the image through an adult-facing service; use the child-safety routes below. For advice about handling evidence in a specific case, ask local law enforcement or a qualified victim-support organization.
3. Choose an image-fingerprinting service based on the person’s age in the image
Fingerprinting services can help limit distribution or route reports, but they do not replace a direct removal request to the platform. The relevant option depends on whether the person depicted was an adult or a minor.
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| Who is depicted? | Service identified by the FTC | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| An adult | StopNCII | StopNCII is a free, global tool for adults. Its case-creation flow requires that the person depicted was over 18 in the image and accepts eligible real or synthetic intimate images. The image stays on the user’s device while the service generates a fingerprint, or hash, which it shares with participating companies. |
| A minor | NCMEC’s Take It Down and CyberTipline | The FTC directs cases involving a minor to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The CyberTipline accepts reports, and NCMEC’s trained analysts make reports available to the appropriate law-enforcement agency. |
Report the content to the platform as well, whichever service applies. Do not send a minor’s case through the adult StopNCII flow.
4. Escalate a U.S. platform failure to the FTC
Under the U.S. Take It Down Act, Section 3 took effect on May 19, 2026. Covered platforms must provide a process for valid removal requests and remove the reported intimate image and known identical copies within 48 hours of a valid request. This deadline applies to covered platforms and valid requests; it is not a guarantee that every website or every report qualifies.
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- Secure Entry —Data on these flash drives cannot be accessed without the correct alphanumeric password of 8 to 16 characters. A password indication option is available for this flash drive. The hint cannot match the password.
If a covered platform has not removed the content within 48 hours after a valid request, has no removal process, or has a broken process, report the platform at TakeItDown.ftc.gov. The FTC complaint form asks for the platform and where the content appeared. The FTC says these reports help it investigate and enforce compliance. You can download a copy of the FTC report you submit.
The FTC’s business guidance says violations may result in civil penalties of $53,088 per violation. That is an enforcement figure, not compensation a person who reported content should expect to receive.
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5. Report threats, blackmail, or the person responsible
The FTC recommends reporting the person responsible to local criminal law enforcement or the FBI. The FBI accepts tips at tips.fbi.gov, by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or through an FBI field office. If the case involves a minor, the FTC also points to NCMEC’s CyberTipline.
If someone is demanding money or more images, FTC guidance says not to pay, send additional images, or give the person access to financial accounts or devices. Stop communicating, block the person, and tell someone you trust. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
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What the U.S. rules do—and do not—cover
The 48-hour deadline and FTC platform-complaint route described here are based on U.S. federal law. They apply to covered platforms and valid requests, not automatically to every service or report. If you are outside the United States, contact the platform and seek guidance from local police, a victim-support service, or a qualified legal resource; the U.S. deadline and FTC process may not apply where you live.
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