(Picture: Liberty Antonia Sadler for Metro.co.uk)

Having intimate photographs or videos shared without your consent is not only a betrayal, it’s a crime.

In UK law, revenge porn is defined as the sharing of private, sexual material of another person without their consent with the purpose of causing embarrassment or distress.

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Does that sound familiar?

Have you shared a picture or video with somebody you trust only for them to turn out to be a completely poisonous waste of skin and show others?


If you suspect you’re a victim, there are a number of things you can do to take back control in a humiliating, distressing and crappy situation.



Contact the police

Sharing explicit images or videos without consent is a crime and perpetrators can face up to two years in jail.

Although it’s a tough subject to broach with authorities, reporting the crime could bring the suspect to justice and prevent them repeating their unacceptable behaviour at another victim’s expense.

(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Contact the site

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If your maliciously shared images are selfies, or videos that you took yourself – you own the copyright.

Contact the website and explain the content is yours and it’s being shared without your consent.

It’s also worth mentioning that you’ve made the police aware of the stolen material, which is causing a huge amount of distress.

Alternatively, ask Google for help

In recent policy updates Google has made it easier for victims to remove revenge porn from appearing in search results. To request your content is removed, use this form.

Just as a heads up, you’ll need to provide Google with the following information to make the formal request.

Tackle revenge porn with Google Your full name

Country

Contact email address

URL for where the content is live, if applicable

A sample URL of Google search results where the image or video appears

Screenshots of the offending content, which will help us ensure that we are removing the correct results. We encourage you to use image-editing software to obscure the sexually explicit portions of the screenshots, but please ensure that they will help us identify the specific content you wish to be removed.

Facebook can help too

Or, if your personal images or video have been shared on Facebook you can anonymously report posts you feel go against the site’s community standards.

You can also report the individual user to Facebook. You will need the URL to their profile and their email address. You can report them here.

Talk about it

Sadly, revenge porn or malicious leaks often carry burdens of shame for the victim – who isn’t the person in the wrong.

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It’s a difficult time and might be a scary subject to approach with friends, parents – or depending or your age, teachers and colleagues.

If you don’t feel like you can talk to somebody you know, there are a number of organisations who exist solely to help and advise victims of revenge porn.

Useful info Revenge Porn Helpline offer free and confidential support for victims of nonconsensual pornography. You can visit their website here, or call them on 0345 60 00 459 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. Women’s Aid work to help women and children facing domestic abuse or threats from partners. Visit their website for support resources, advice and confidential forums here. Or call 0808 20 00 247 at any time. Victim Support provide free and confidential support for anyone affected by crime. Call 0845 30 30 900 between 8pm and 8am Mon – Fri or at any time at weekends. Or visit Stop Revenge Porn Scotland website for information about local women’s aid groups and support organisations.

A spokesperson for Revenge Porn Helpline, when contacted by Metro.co.uk, advised: ‘You have been a victim of a crime and deserve support. You are not alone.

‘Preserve and gather evidence, take screenshots of any threatening messages, shared content and the URLs (webpages) and approach the police on the non-emergency number 101.

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‘If you are at risk of harm please, dial 999. We understand it is a very distressing experience but do encourage that you do not delete content immediately as this may impede a police investigation.



‘Stop contact with any individuals and if any demands for further content or money are made, do not pay.

‘If social media is involved victims may wish to block and report individuals and raise their security settings.

‘We understand how difficult it can be to talk about the issue, but please visit the Revenge Porn helpline for details on how to contact us for for non-judgemental, emotional support, advice and practical assistance in reporting and removing content online.’