Sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent is a criminal offence in England and Wales. The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (s.33) makes it an offence punishable by up to 2 years' imprisonment. The Online Safety Act 2023 has further strengthened protections. This guide explains the law, how to get images removed, and the additional civil remedies available — including defamation claims where the images are accompanied by false allegations.
The Criminal Offence
Section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 makes it an offence to disclose private sexual photographs or films without the consent of the person depicted, where the disclosure is made with the intent to cause distress. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 2 years' imprisonment.
The Online Safety Act 2023 introduced a further offence of sharing intimate images without consent, regardless of the perpetrator's intent. This "base offence" removes the need to prove intent to cause distress, making prosecution easier.
Getting Images Removed
If intimate images of you have been shared without your consent, take the following steps immediately:
- Do not confront the person who shared them. Anything you say may be used in evidence.
- Report to the police. This is a criminal offence and the police have powers to compel removal.
- Report to the platform. All major platforms have specific reporting mechanisms for non-consensual intimate images and prioritise removal.
- Contact the Revenge Porn Helpline (0345 6000 459) — a specialist service funded by the government that assists with reporting and removal.
- Instruct a solicitor for a formal legal notice to the platform and, if appropriate, an emergency court injunction.
The Defamation Dimension
Where intimate images are shared alongside false allegations — for example, false claims about the depicted person's sexual behaviour, infidelity, or involvement in sex work — the accompanying statements may constitute actionable defamation. This is common in revenge porn cases, where the perpetrator publishes images alongside a narrative designed to humiliate. A defamation claim can secure damages beyond those available through criminal prosecution.
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Civil Remedies
In addition to criminal prosecution, victims have multiple civil remedies:
- Misuse of private information: The primary civil claim, providing damages for the distress caused by the disclosure
- Harassment: Where the sharing forms part of a pattern of harassing conduct
- Defamation: Where the images are accompanied by false factual allegations
- Data protection: Where the images constitute personal data processed unlawfully
- Injunctions: Court orders requiring removal and prohibiting further sharing
Related Reading
Privacy vs defamation | Identifying anonymous abusers | Online abuse hub
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