For free and confidential advice about image-based abuse, you can get help here.
It is never OK to take, send, share or post a nude, sexual or other intimate picture or video (sometimes called ‘nudes’) of someone online without their permission, or threaten to do so.
This is called image-based abuse (sometimes known as ‘revenge porn’) and it’s a crime.
If the pictures are nude or sexual images of someone under the age of 18, then other child exploitation material laws can also apply. This means it can be a crime to take, send or share these images, even if the young person has agreed to them being taken, sent or shared. We recommend that you never take or share prohibited or sexual images of someone unless they are over 18 and you are sure they have said it’s OK.
If you are looking for information about sharing sexual or intimate images or videos between two consenting people, check out our page on Sexting.
Image-based abuse is where someone shares ,or threatens to share, a nude, sexual or intimate image or video of another person without their consent. This applies both in person and online, and includes showing or sending the image to another person, or posting the image online.
An “intimate image” is a picture or video that shows:
It doesn’t have to be a real photo – an intimate image can also include pictures and videos that have been drawn or photoshopped without the consent of those pictured.
In NSW, it is illegal to:
For free and confidential legal advice about this topic, please contact us here.
To give consent, the law says that the person in the image must have freely and voluntarily agreed to the image being taken and/or sent on that specific occasion. If a person shares an intimate image of themselves, it does not mean they have consented to the image being shared to or seen by other people. Consent must be given on each and every occasion.
It is never safe to assume someone has consented to you taking or sending nude, sexual or intimate images of them.
The person must be conscious and awake to give consent. People who are asleep or drunk cannot consent. Also, their consent doesn’t count if they were threatened or if they were held against their will. If someone agrees to have sex or engage in a sexual act, it does not mean that they also consent to it being recorded or photographed. And remember – people are allowed to change their minds!
In NSW, a person under 16 is not able to consent at all to having their intimate images taken or shared. So if the person in the picture or video is under 16, it is a crime to take, record, send, share or post any intimate image or video, even if that person said it was OK. For more information about the laws that apply to people under 18 years old, you can have a look at our page on Sexting.
In NSW, it is against the law to threaten to share an intimate image of a person. If you have sent someone intimate images or videos and they threaten to post them online or share them with other people, that is against the law.
There are also laws that apply across Australia that make it illegal to use a phone or internet service in a way that is menacing, harassing or offensive. This includes sending or posting images that are likely to have a serious effect on someone, for example by making them feel scared, seriously angry or upset.
If someone has shared or threatened to share your intimate images, there are steps you can take. As a first step, we strongly recommend that you do not give in to the person’s threats and that you get free and confidential help straight away.
1. Collect evidence
First, we recommend that you collect evidence of any threats and images that have been shared without your consent. For example, you can take screenshots or print images of the abuse or threats. For more information on collecting evidence, check out these guides: How to collect evidence and Collecting information.
2. Getting the images removed
If your image has been posted online, you can report it to the website or social media service to get it removed.
If the image is not taken down, you can also report it to the eSafety Commissioner here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/image-based-abuse/take-action/report-to-esafety-commissioner
The eSafety Commissioner can help to get the images taken down or take action against the person who sent or posted them. In some cases the Commissioner might need to report it to the police.
3. Legal advice
You might be able to take legal action against the person or help to get the images removed. Every situation is different, and a lawyer can help you understand your options.
For free legal advice, you can contact us or one of these services:
4. Report it to the police
If you have been threatened with your images, or your image has been shared without your consent, you can report it to the police.
You can make a report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
For non-emergency matters, you can phone the police assistance line on 131 444.
If you are ever in immediate danger, please call the police on 000.
5. Talk to someone
If you or someone you know has experienced image-based abuse, it’s a good idea to talk to someone you trust, like a friend, your parents or another trusted adult.
If you would rather talk to someone you don’t know, you can call one of the following services for free and private counselling support.
Consequences for breaking the law
If you commit one of the crimes we have talked about above, the consequences can be very serious. You may be investigated and charged by the police, and if you are found guilty you could end up with a criminal record or even go to jail. For some offences you could also be placed on the NSW Child Protection Register if you are sentenced. This may affect your ability to work in certain jobs in the future.
If you have committed one or more of these crimes and you are contacted by the police, we strongly recommend that you get legal advice straight away.
If you have a problem or a question, you can send it to us today and we can provide you with free advice, information and referrals to help solve your problem. Just click on the button below.
Get help now