Sharing nude images online without permission can have serious consequences. Did you know that possessing or distributing explicit images of minors (under 18) is illegal and can lead to criminal prosecution?

If you find yourself in a situation where nude photos have been shared without your permission, there are a number of steps you can take.

• Firstly, don’t panic, tell someone you trust about what has happened. You may find it embarrassing, but talking to your parent, teacher or another adult you trust can offer a great deal of support and advice.
• If you can’t speak to someone you know or trust call Childline. They have lots of experience in dealing with these types of instances.
• Do you know who has shared the image? If so contact them or ask someone you trust to contact them. Ask them to remove and delete the image(s). You should also check if they have shared the image(s) with anyone else or on any other sites/services.
• If you are under 18 and a nude image of you has been shared online, it is illegal and you should report it with the Gardaí.
• Has the image appeared on social networks? If the image is a nude and you are under 18, you should report the image directly with the social network. You can normally do this through the settings.
• This can be a stressful, upsetting time when images are shared online without consent. It may be helpful to talk to a professional or school guidance counsellor about what has happened.
• The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco’s Law, creates two new offences which criminalise the non-consensual distribution of intimate images:
  • It is an offence to distribute or publish intimate images of a person, without consent and with intent to cause harm. Penalties include an unlimited fine and/or 7 years imprisonment.
  • It is an offence to take, distribute or publish intimate images of a person without consent even if there is no specific intent to cause harm. Penalties include a maximum fine of €5,000 and/or 12 months’ imprisonment.

Importantly, this applies even if the person initially gave consent for the picture to be taken, but they were later shared with other people without their consent.

• You might also consider contacting a legal professional if you are having difficulty removing images or contacting the website host.

For more information and support to go: webwise.ie/forever