Someone has made fake naked images of me, what can I do?

If someone has created fake naked images or videos of you, this can be an incredibly distressing experience. It is a complete violation of your privacy and consent. No one deserves to have something like that happen to them, and what you are experiencing is not your fault. Right now, you might be feeling panicked, overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next.  Speaking to someone about what is happening can help. At spunout, we provide a free, anonymous, 24/7 messaging service. You can connect with a trained volunteer for immediate support for your mental health and emotional well-being. You can WhatsApp us now to start a conversation.

Someone has made fake naked images of me. What can I do?

If someone has created or shared AI-generated naked pictures or videos of you, you can report it.

 You may find it helpful to consider some of the following steps:

• Contact the Gardaí to report what has happened and get help on what to do next
• Report it to the website or platform in question and request that they remove it
• Report what has happened to hotline.ie
• Untag yourself if tagged on social media
• If it feels safe to do so, ask someone to contact the person who has posted the content and request that it be taken down
• Reach out for emotional and mental health support by speaking to a counsellor or support service
• If this has happened in school, college or work, report it to someone who can help you, such as a guidance counsellor, lecturer or a person in HR
• Talk to a family member or friend; it may be embarrassing at first, but having support can make a real difference
• You may want to take a step back from social media, but this is completely up to you
• Consider contacting a legal professional for advice on having the images removed and requiring the person responsible to delete all copies. Under Data Protection and copyright law, you have the legal right to have these images taken off the internet.

You do not need to do all of these things at once or at all. What matters most is doing what feels safest and most manageable for you.

What is the law in Ireland on creating and sharing fake naked images of someone?

Since 9 February 2021, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, also known as Coco’s Law, makes it illegal to record, share, distribute or publish intimate images of someone without their consent. This includes both real images and depictions of someone’s likeness. This means an image that is made to look like you.

Intimate images include any photo or video showing:

• A person’s genitals, breasts, bum or anal region
• The underwear covering these parts of the body
• A naked person
• A person engaged in any form of sexual activity

Depending on intent, someone convicted of sharing the images without consent can face a maximum prison sentence of up to seven years.

If you are under 18, the law offers additional protections. It is illegal to:

• Send sexual messages or media (photos or videos)
• Send sexual messages or media to anyone else under the age of 18
• Forward a sexual picture or video of someone under 18

If you are under 18, a sexual image of you will be considered child sexual abuse material by the law. Having a sexual picture or video of someone under 18 years of age and sending that picture to others is illegal and can result in criminal prosecution. Penalties may include imprisonment, a fine, and inclusion on the sex offenders register for two and a half years.

If you are under 18 and someone has created fake naked images of you, it is important to speak to a trusted adult about this. As you are still a minor, you will need an adult to speak with the Gardaí, as well as your school and other support services you may need to access.

Looking after yourself when experiencing abuse online

Having someone create a fake naked image of you can be an incredibly upsetting experience. Remember, you are not to blame for what has happened. It can be helpful when something like this happens to reach out to those you are closest to for support. Speaking to someone you trust about what has happened can help you share your feelings and receive support and comfort to help you get through this difficult time.

You may also find it helpful to contact an organisation that can offer you advice and support for what you are currently going through.

You can call:

• Women’s Aid free 24-hour helpline to talk in confidence at 1800 341 900
• Male Advice Line run by the Men’s Development Network, call 1800 816 588
• Dublin Rape Crisis Centre free 24-hour helpline to talk in confidence 1800 78 888

All of these services provide confidential advice and support for victims of domestic and sexual violence and abuse.

Additional support services you might find helpful are:

• Tacklebullying.ie who offer information and help for cyberbullying
• Grow Mental Health, a free online support group for over-18s in Ireland
• We-Speak is a free online resource for a space where survivors of trauma and abuse share their stories alongside supportive allies

Speaking to a counsellor or therapist

If, over time, the experience has affected your mental health and wellbeing, you may find speaking with a counsellor or therapist beneficial to you.

Free services available to you:

• Jigsaw offers free therapy and expert mental health support, both online and face-to-face, to children and young adults aged 12-25
• Rape Crisis Centres (RCCs) offer support, information, counselling, and advocacy services for both survivors and supporters of survivors of rape and all other forms of sexual violence
• MyMind provides professional counselling and psychotherapy, face-to-face or online. Face-to-face appointments are available from 11 locations across Ireland and online in over 20 languages. MyMind’s fees are based on income, with HSE-funded Low Cost appointments available to full-time third-level students and anyone earning less than 25,000 per year.

Feeling overwhelmed and want to talk to someone?

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Whatsapp us now or free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin.
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’.