Top 10 steps to avoid sexting photos published online
Every day DMCA.com professional staff handle takedown cases for clients who have found their personal and very intimate pictures, or videos, published online on for all to see. Their stories and situations are heartbreaking. Almost always their reputation has been severely impacted by the publication of these deeply personal photos or videos being published on the internet. Shockingly, in most cases, these personal very intimate pictures or videos were found online by family, friends or even coworkers. To make matters worse, often the photos or videos were taken years earlier, long forgotten and long before a current marriage, relationship or employment.
While we cannot stop what has already happened, we want to stop it happening to you, your family or friends.
In the age of powerful internet search engines and social networking it is too easy for anyone (husband, boss, clients, co-workers, parents etc.) to connect your name to recently published, intimate pictures or videos that have been uploaded onto the internet.
If you want to stop reading and get started right away, click here for DMCA.com's Professional Takedown Service
DMCA.com staff has put together a Top 10 list on how to prevent this tragedy from happening to someone you know and love. These 10 steps have been written to help protect against online harassment.
DMCA Takedown Fast Tip
Although wrongful publication of personal pictures happens to both men and women, over 95% of the cases we see are women and teenage girls.
What can I do to try to prevent my photos from being published online?
Be cautious of sharing intimate images or videos with anyone, even if you trust them.
Use apps and settings that offer end-to-end encryption.
Avoid taking pictures or videos that show your face, identifiable tattoos or other distinctive features.
Be mindful of the background of the images, as it can give away your location.
Before sharing any images, consider the potential consequences.
Use the privacy settings on social media platforms to limit who can see your posts.
If you are in a relationship and wish to share intimate images, consider using an app specifically designed for this purpose.
Be prepared to take legal action if someone threatens to share your images without your consent.
Seek support from friends, family, or professionals if you are being threatened with revenge porn.
Educate yourself about the laws and resources available to help you in your area.
We understand that many people have been taken advantage of by someone they once trusted, or that a personal device has been hacked. In these unfortunate circumstances, we can help. If your content has been stolen and you need help, to get started submit the takedown form here: Takedown Form
DMCA Takedown Testimonial
Julie!! & all of DMCA takedown... I want to thank you.... due to personal reasons (many women can relate) I had to get MANY things taken off the internet due to change in careers... and they have helped this become possible in a WEEK! Thank you. I’m so thankful and so is my future self. - JA
What to do when you find compromising pictures of you published online?
- Don't Panic. Respond quickly. The faster the better. Be confident. Get help.
- Contact the police - especially if:
- You or the person in the picture or video were underage.
- The perpetrator of this crime is known to you and you never gave permission for the pictures to be shared.
- Note: Often the authorities can help with the perpetrators of the crime but are unable to act if the photos/videos have been uploaded to servers located outside their legal jurisdiction. Be prepared to deal with getting your pictures/videos taken down as a separate issue.
- Do not become a victim of extortion! Do not send money or a picture of your ID to hosting companies or website owners in order to get your content removed. This is a serious act of privacy violation and not required within any takedown process, anywhere. If you must pay to have your content taken offline it is extortion or a bribe under most laws. If you must pay or follow some other bizarre process to have your content taken offline do so with a lawyer, inform the police and where possible, have an internet specialist with you. Do not pay money to anyone - do not give in to blackmail. If you pay them once they will come back again and again.
- Find as many copies and versions as you can. You are the best person to identify this content. Often it will be cropped or altered in some way so often you can identify it the quickest. Make a list. Like a weed if you can get at the source, you can stop it from spreading. Often only one website was the source of the uploaded picture or video. It is important to get it removed from there and move on to the other sites, if there are any.
- It's wrong to assume that once your photo or video is off one website the issue is resolved. It could have been copied and uploaded somewhere else. The longer the content has been up the more likely it has spread to other networks and websites.
- Begin Processing (DMCA) Takedowns immediately! The faster the better. Do it now! Staying on top of getting your content taken down means you can stop or slow the spread. You can conduct takedowns yourself (DMCA.com has a very inexpensive DIY Program), use a lawyer or use a service like DMCA.com Professional Takedown Service. Regardless of the method you use, the quicker the better. Processing takedown can also help any legal action you have started or will start later. If you choose to conduct the process yourself here are a few important tips:
- Follow the (DMCA) Takedown process of website where you have found the pictures or video exactly. If the website has its own policy follow that.
- Do not be emotional in your description or request for removal.
- Do not tell a story or give background or incident details.
- Clearly the state facts related to the photo or picture usage - it's your picture, or you are in it and you did not give permission to be used in this manner or you own the copyright.
Related DMCA Takedown FAQ's
- What is DMCA.com?
- What is a DMCA Takedown?
- How do I get my picture taken off the internet?
- My ex posted private photos on a website without my permission?