What to do if someone threatens to leak pictures?
What to do if someone threatens to leak pictures?
Having someone threaten to leak your private pictures, whether real or fake, is terrifying, violating, and deeply personal. Sadly, this type of digital abuse is on the rise globally, especially through dating apps, social media, and sextortion scams.
But here’s the most important thing to know: you are not alone, and it is not your fault. You have rights, options, and support systems ready to help you, including CypherGuard.
This guide will walk you through exactly what to do if someone threatens to leak your images online. Whether it’s a stranger on the internet or someone you once trusted, we’ll show you how to protect yourself, preserve evidence, and take back control safely and legally.
Step 1: Do NOT Give In to the Threat
If someone is threatening to leak or post your private pictures unless you send more content, money, or meet other demands, it’s blackmail. Whether it’s a stranger from a dating app or someone you know, do not comply.
Giving in usually leads to more threats and abuse. These people rarely stop once they know you’re scared. The best response is silence, action, and support.
Step 2: Collect and Save All Evidence
This is crucial. Do not delete messages or block the person yet.
What to save:
- Screenshots of threats, usernames, and conversations
- Photos/videos they sent you
- URLs, email addresses, phone numbers
- Times, dates, and platforms used
Save it somewhere secure. This information will help law enforcement, platforms, and support services trace the source and stop it from escalating.
Step 3: Secure Your Digital Accounts
Change passwords for your:
- Social media
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox)
- Messaging apps
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). If you suspect your device has been hacked, run a virus scan or speak to a cybersecurity expert like CypherGuard for a device check.
Step 4: Understand the Law and Know Your Rights
When someone threatens to share your intimate images without consent, whether they’re real, altered, or AI-generated, that is not just immoral; it is illegal. Understanding your legal rights is a crucial part of taking back control.
Once we’ve collected and analysed your case, CypherGuard can help prepare your report with technical logs and digital evidence.
The laws in Australia and the United States both offer protection against this kind of abuse, but the process and penalties differ. Here’s what you need to know:
Australia: Strong Protections Under Image-Based Abuse Laws
Australia has some of the most comprehensive laws in the world when it comes to non-consensual sharing of intimate images, known as image-based abuse.
Across every state and territory, it is a criminal offence to:
- Threaten to share intimate or sexual photos without consent
- Actually share or publish those images
- Create or alter images (e.g., using deepfake technology) to appear sexual or intimate
What Penalties Apply?
- Penalties range from 2 to 7 years imprisonment, depending on the jurisdiction and severity
- Courts may also issue intervention orders, compensation orders, and enforce platform takedowns
Where to Report in Australia:
- eSafety Commissioner: Offers a confidential reporting process and can order platforms to remove the images within 48 hours
- Local Police: Especially in urgent or repeated threats
- ReportCyber: Handles online crime complaints that involve threats, blackmail, or digital abuse
- Scamwatch: If the threat is connected to extortion or sextortion scams
Important: You can report anonymously to eSafety, and they will not contact the person making the threats unless you consent.
Legal Notes:
- Consent is required for any sharing of intimate content, even if the photo was willingly sent at first
- Minors involved in any shared explicit imagery, even of themselves, may trigger additional child exploitation laws
- Sharing or threatening to share AI-altered or deepfaked intimate images still qualifies as a criminal offence in many cases
United States: Sextortion and Non-Consensual Image Laws by State and Federal Level
In the United States, laws vary from state to state, but almost all have criminalised revenge porn, sextortion, and cyber harassment involving private images.
If someone is threatening to leak your photos, it’s typically considered:
- Extortion (demanding money or favours under threat)
- Non-consensual pornography (sharing private sexual imagery without permission)
- Cyber harassment or stalking
- Involving minors? It could fall under federal child exploitation laws
What Penalties Apply?
- Misdemeanour or felony charges, depending on the state
- Penalties may include fines, prison terms (up to 10 years), and civil lawsuits
- Victims can also request restraining orders or sue for emotional damages
Where to Report in the U.S.:
- FBI IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Centre): For scams or online blackmail
- CyberTipline (NCMEC): Especially if a minor is involved
- Local Law Enforcement: For harassment, stalking, or sextortion
- Revenge Porn Helplines: In some states like California and New York, specialised support groups exist for legal aid and takedown help
Legal Notes:
- Most states now have revenge porn laws that protect adults from threats and non-consensual sharing
- Even if the images were shared consensually at first, threatening to leak them later still counts as a crime
- If someone impersonates you or fakes images of you using AI or deepfakes, civil defamation or identity theft laws may apply in some states
- Many tech platforms (like Meta, Reddit, TikTok) now support NYPD-style evidence submissions or “non-consensual intimate imagery” flagging options
How CypherGuard Can Help
At CypherGuard, we:
- Use digital forensics to track scammers and threats
- Analyse content to detect AI-generated or deepfake images
- Create platform takedown requests
- Support legal and police reports with verified data
Take Back Control
- Don’t reply to threats
- Gather proof
- Secure your accounts
- Report quickly
- Get support
We move fast before the scammer disappears or evidence vanishes.
FAQ
What if the photos are fake?
CypherGuard can detect deepfakes and fake content using forensic tools.
Should I pay the scammer?
No. This usually escalates the abuse. Report and secure your data instead.
Can CypherGuard help even if the images are leaked?
Yes, we assist with takedowns, damage control, and legal reporting.