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Overview
This page explains what image-based sexual abuse is, legal protections available, and what services can help you and your family and whānau
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If you’ve experienced image-based sexual abuse, it’s not your fault
If someone has created, shared, or threatened to share intimate material of you without your consent, what happened is not your fault. Image-based sexual abuse can affect you and your whānau or family in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to feel, and your reactions are valid.
Image-based sexual abuse is a serious crime and it is not okay.
What is image-based sexual abuse
Image-based sexual abuse is a form of sexual violence that occurs when intimate content is created, shared, or threatened to be shared without a person’s permission. Intimate content can include images, videos and recordings.
Image-based sexual abuse can be a part of a broader pattern of technology-facilitated abuse, where technology is used to control, intimidate, exploit or harm someone. Some people may know image-based sexual abuse by the term ‘revenge porn’.
It can include:
- sharing, or threatening to share, intimate content to other people without your permission, even if you originally shared them with someone you trusted
- sextortion
- deepfakes
- cyberflashing
Image-based sexual abuse is recognised as a form of sexual violence or sexual harm and can be a part of family violence including stalking and harassment. Depending on your situation, the behaviour can be prosecuted under different laws.
More information about Harmful digital communications
More information about Family Violence
Content involving someone under 18
If intimate content involves someone under the age of 18, it is child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Even if a young person agreed to the intimate content being created, it is still illegal for it to be shared or published.
Possessing, making or distributing CSAM is illegal under New Zealand law.
Referral Pathways For Sexual Exploitation Support | ECPAT NZ (external link)
Understand Child Sexual Abuse Material & NZ Law With Netsafe | Netsafe(external link)
Help removing content
There are free online tools to help you find and remove intimate material from being shared online:
Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (external link)
Take it Down(external link) (aimed at supporting minors)
If you feel safe to do so, you can save screenshots or messages before the content is removed. This can be used as evidence if you decide to report the behaviour.
Netsafe is an organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand that can help and support people who have experienced online harm. They can also help remove content.
Image Based Abuse l Netsafe(external link)
Reporting
You can choose whether to report or not. There are different options available to you depending on your situation.
You can:
- report to Netsafe for help and support to remove content and help find resolution
- report to New Zealand Police who can investigate and decide if a crime has happened
- apply for a court order to have intimate material removed, destroyed and to stop more being shared.
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Netsafe
Netsafe handles complaints about online harm. They can provide information, support, and advice on your options.
Depending on the situation, they may use negotiation, mediation, or persuasion, where appropriate, to help resolve your complaint quickly and effectively.
You can report online harm to Netsafe in a way that suits you:
- online forms: Report harmful content | Netsafe(external link)
- email: help@netsafe.org.nz
- freephone: 0508 638 723
- text: ‘Netsafe’ to 4282.
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Police
New Zealand Police(external link) can investigate cases of image-based sexual abuse. Then they decide whether to charge a person with a crime, which may then go to court.
If police decide not to charge, then cases can be referred back to Netsafe for resolution.
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Apply for a court order
You can apply for a harmful digital communications order through the District Court to help stop online harassment, harm and abuse.
Harmful digital communications can be texts, emails, images, recordings, social media posts, or any form of online material that causes, or is likely to cause, serious harm to someone.
A harmful digital communications order can:
- remove harmful content online
- stop posting or sending messages
- encourage others not to target you
- correct false information
- give you a right to reply
- publish an apology.
More information about harmful digital communications
You can find out how to apply on the Ministry of Justice website:
Applying for a Harmful Digital Communications order | Ministry of Justice(external link)
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If the victim is aged under 18
There are different reporting options for a victim aged under 18. These include:
- New Zealand Police
- Department of Internal Affairs has a dedicated online tool for reporting child exploitation material.
- Oranga Tamariki – you can report if you know, or have concerns, that a child is at risk.
- Freephone 0508 326 459
- Online form: Worried about a child? Tell us | Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children(external link)
If you’re unsure who to report to or want more information, you can contact Child Alert New Zealand(external link).
- Phone 09 376 5252
- Email: info@ecpat.org.nz
Support is available
There are support organisations available in Aotearoa New Zealand that can provide you with information and guidance.
Find more about Supporting organisations