My sexually explicit images are being circulated
What should you do if someone shares intimate photos or videos of you without your consent?
If your intimate photos or videos have been shared without your consent, you have been subjected to the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. This form of digital sexual violence is often referred to as “revenge porn” or NCII (Non-Consensual Intimate Images). It is a serious criminal offence.
Preserve the evidence
Act as quickly as possible if you discover that intimate images of you have been shared. First, take a screenshot of the image concerned and make sure that the platform and, where possible, the date are clearly visible.
Remove the images
The Institute can help you have the images removed. Please contact us as soon as possible. If possible, provide a link to the account that shared your images, as well as a screenshot showing that the images have been distributed.
Report the incident
You can report the incident to the Institute. Even if you are unsure whether what you have experienced constitutes the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, or if you have been subjected to another form of digital sexual violence, you are encouraged to contact the Institute.
We will review your situation with you and provide advice and support. We will never take any action without your consent.
Report the incident to the police
You may also file a report with the police. It is important to collect all relevant evidence (such as screenshots of conversations, emails, proof that the images have been shared, and relevant links) so that it can be provided to the police.
Contact the person who shared the images
You may wish to consider contacting the person who shared the images and asking them to stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What should I do if I'm a minor?
If you are under 18, please contact Child Focus for help.
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Can preventative action be taken against the distribution of intimate images?
If you know that someone has sexually explicit content featuring you and you fear that it has been or may be shared, you can take preventative action via the StopNCII.org website.
Through this website, you can create a digital fingerprint of your material. StopNCII sends this fingerprint (not the images themselves) to various platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, OnlyFans, etc.), which then search their servers for matching content. The content is then removed. If anyone attempts to share the content you have flagged in the future, the digital fingerprint will be recognised and blocked by the platform.
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I took the photos myself, but I didn’t agree to them being shared
That doesn’t matter. Whether you gave consent for the images to be taken, took them yourself or sent them voluntarily as part of sexting: if you haven’t given consent for the images to be shown or shared, this constitutes sharing without consent.
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What should I do if my intimate images have been shared in a chat group?
If the intimate content (photos, videos or audio files):
- is forwarded via a chat app, a forum or a private group;
- is published on social media or on websites;
- is shown to someone else;
- is printed and displayed in public;
- is forwarded to one other person;
then this constitutes distribution.
It does not matter whether the images were taken by the person depicted or not. If this person has not given consent for the distribution, it constitutes distribution without consent.
If you have learnt from witnesses that your images have been forwarded via a messaging service, please contact the Institute and ask the witnesses to help you gather evidence.
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Is this a criminal offence?
Yes. The distribution of intimate images without consent is a criminal offence in Belgium. It does not matter whether the perpetrator did this ‘as a joke’ or with the intention of causing harm.
Anyone who distributes images of others without their consent risks heavy fines and prison sentences of up to five years.
Where the offences are committed against a person in a vulnerable situation, with a discriminatory motive or from a position of authority or trust, these circumstances are considered aggravating and may lead to significantly harsher penalties.
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What is revenge porn?
The distribution of sexually explicit content without consent is sometimes referred to as ‘revenge porn’. This term suggests that the images are distributed out of revenge, but in reality the motives of perpetrators can vary widely.
For example, they may:
- sell the images, for example via websites;
- show the images to friends for their amusement;
- distribute the images to boast about their so-called ‘conquests’.
The reasons can therefore vary greatly. What is important is that the distribution of images without consent is unacceptable, regardless of the motive.
Furthermore, the term ‘revenge’ gives the impression that the victim has done something wrong and therefore deserves this ‘revenge’. That is, of course, not the case. That is why the Institute prefers to use the term ‘distribution of intimate images without consent’.
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What should I do if someone asks for money in exchange for not distributing or deleting the images?
If someone is in possession of intimate images and threatens to distribute them unless money, further images or other favours are provided, this constitutes sextortion (sexual blackmail).
Sometimes the perpetrator does not want additional images, but uses the images to exert pressure, for example to maintain a relationship or to prevent a police report from being made.
The images may have been obtained in various ways: with consent (for example, as part of sexting), but also through manipulation, a fake profile, under pressure or by hacking.