Image Based Abuse
Image-Based Abuse
Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) involves someone distributing, creating, or threatening to share private sexual images or videos of another person without their consent.
Prevalance
1 in 7
people in the US have had intimate images shared without their consent.
1 in 3
LGBTQ+ people have experienced IBSA.
$8M
How much sextortion cost Americans in just 7 months.
How It Happens
In some cases of IBSA, offenders distribute or threaten to distribute private images that were originally shared consensually, e.g. during a relationship. In others, they may be obtained via covert behaviors such as secretly recording someone, or even created using artificial intelligence (e.g. deepfakes, nudification apps). Victims of IBSA may receive threats of having images or videos of them distributed unless they pay money or perform certain acts, a behavior known as sextortion.
Laws
All forms of IBSA are serious violations of privacy and can cause significant emotional harm. All 50 states have laws prohibiting IBSA, but whether or not the statute applies depends on the specific situation. View State Laws about IBSA to learn more.
What to do
If you or someone you know is a target of IBSA, you are not alone. Explore curated resources for responding to IBSA below. You can also visit the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, one of NRCC’s primary partners, for more information.
Resources
Need immediate help with image-based abuse? Explore some curated resources for this issue.
Direct service for victims
Prevent private photos from being posted on public platforms.
Generate takedown letters using a resource from Chayn.
Understand what laws might apply and learn how to file a report with your local law enforcement.