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Have intimate images removed
Discreet review, targeted removal, protection against repetition
Intimate photos do not have to be online for action to be needed. After a separation, a deletion claim can exist even for consensually made images. If images are online, we take action against the distributor, platform and search engine.
Please enter a short description first.
Initial contact is free of charge. Before any costs arise, we will inform you expressly.
Response within 24 hours on working days
As of: 23 October 2026
Evidence preservation3 of 5
- Exact URL and platformPresent
- Profile name and account IDPresent
- Date and time of discoveryPresent
- Screenshot of the surroundings, redactedCheck
- Intimate original fileoptional uploadMissing
Point of review: Who has the image, who is showing it?
- 1Secure the situationRecord locations
- 2Identify the opponentPerson, platform, search
- 3Secure the removalCourt order and follow-up reports
Schematic illustration. Example fictitious and simplified.
We represent those affected against
- Ex-partners
- Platforms
- Hosts
- Search engines
- Anonymous accounts
What helps in the first hours?
- Secure evidence. Note the URL, platform, profile name, date and time. A screenshot of the surroundings is enough at first.
- Report the content to the platform, with the exact URL. Under Art. 16 DSA, platforms must offer a reporting route. Art. 16 DSA
- Use StopNCII. For adults, the tool generates a hash on their own device so that participating platforms recognise identical files. StopNCII.org
- For images from before the 18th birthday, Take It Down works on the same principle. Take It Down
- Have Google results removed via its own reporting procedure for intimate images. Google Help
Key points at a glance
According to the Federal Court of Justice, after a separation there can be a claim to the deletion of intimate photos and videos, even though they were made with consent. What matters are the content, purpose and scope of the consent given at the time. If images have already been distributed, we combine claims against the uploader with a precise platform report, a host takedown and delisting from search engines. ITMR cannot promise removal from every private copy. We take staged action against known storage locations, further distribution and new locations.
Is this the right page for you?
- This page is right if images are to be deleted, whether by the ex-partner, on a platform or on Google. It covers deletion, cease and desist, disclosure and urgent proceedings.
- The other page is right if you first want to clarify your situation: is it a criminal offence, who is behind it, how serious is a threat? For orientation
Starting position
What is your situation?
The right route depends on where the image is and who is showing it.
Stored by the ex-partner, threatened, already online or visible in Google search. We separate these situations before the first contact with the other side.
This applies to nude photos as well as sex videos or threatened revenge porn. Each situation requires different steps, different evidence and a different opponent.
If the image is with the ex-partner, we examine a deletion claim even where it was originally made consensually. If it is online, we coordinate action against the distributor, platform, host and search engine.
If publication is threatened in order to extort money, further images or certain behaviour, we first secure the threat. For anonymous accounts, we examine existing subscriber data and court disclosure routes.
- For whom
- People affected by intimate images
- Goal
- Deletion, cease and desist, delisting
- First response
- within 24 hours on working days
- Files
- optional, locations are enough at first
If Google shows intimate images, we deal separately with delisting, image search, duplicates and the source that still exists. Delisting does not remove the file on the original page.
If the image is a deepfake or deepnude, additional checks on forgery, platform liability and AI law are added. A synthetic depiction can also violate personality rights.
Many of those affected hesitate to get in touch out of shame. You do not have to show us any images or describe any details you do not want to share. For the first contact, an initial and an email address are enough.
An enquiry is worthwhile even if publication is only threatened or you do not know where the images are stored. The sooner the situation is organised, the more routes remain open.
Discreet assessment
Briefly describe your situation using the form. We will respond within 24 hours on working days.
Process
How do we proceed with intimate images?
In three steps from the location to secured removal.
01
Secure the situation Is the image only stored by the ex-partner, is publication being threatened or is it online? We secure locations, time and distribution route without passing on the intimate file unnecessarily.
02
Identify the opponent Depending on the case, the ex-partner, uploader, platform, host, search engine or an anonymous account come into consideration. Deletion, cease and desist, takedown and delisting solve different problems.
03
Secure the removal We coordinate out-of-court demands, DSA reports, Google requests, preliminary injunctions or disclosure proceedings according to urgency and evidence. We assign new locations to the existing strategy.
What happens in the mandate in detail
- 1
Clarify conflict, urgency and goal Should the content first be removed, the perpetrator identified or a court prohibition prepared immediately? We clarify this question at the start.
- 2
Create an evidence and opponent map We separate locations, accounts, operators, hosts, search engines and known persons. This way, each addressee receives only the demand that suits them.
- 3
Initiate out-of-court removal We send the warning letter, deletion demand, DSA report, host notice and search engine request in parallel or in stages.
- 4
Prepare urgent proceedings or disclosure If a responsible party does not respond or further distribution is threatened, we choose a preliminary injunction, a lawsuit or court-ordered disclosure of subscriber data depending on the evidence.
- 5
Check the result and repetition We document which URL was removed, which result was delisted and which cease-and-desist obligation has been secured.
Service
What do we take on for intimate images?
Service package: removing intimate images
- Cease and desist and deletionReview and enforcement against the person who possesses, uploads, forwards or threatens to publish images. The goal is the deletion of originals and copies and a prohibition of further distribution.
- DSA report to platformsA reasoned report with the exact location, legal assessment and documented history instead of a general complaint text.
- Host and websiteDetermining technical and legal responsibility when the legal notice, operator or upload account do not respond reliably.
Google delisting Removal from web and image search under the search engine's guidelines and data protection law, including review of recurring duplicates.Account disclosure Court route to existing subscriber data if the distributor acts anonymously and the requirements of Section 21 TDDDG are met.Urgent legal protection and lawsuit We choose a warning letter, a cease-and-desist declaration with a penalty clause, a preliminary injunction or main proceedings according to urgency and evidence. Court steps are a separate service, on request and as needed.
- For whom
- People affected by nude photos, sex videos, revenge porn and deepnudes
- First response
- within 24 hours on working days
- Costs
- We tell you the costs transparently before you instruct us.
- Not included
- Criminal defence and joint prosecution. Court proceedings only as a separate service, on request and as needed.
Who delivers what and who decides
- URLs and profile names
- Date of discovery
- Redacted screenshots of the surroundings
- Threatening messages and platform decisions
- Opponent map and strategy
- Demands and reports
- Delisting requests
- Court steps by agreement
- You, on goal and approach
- The platform, on the report
- In a dispute, the court
How does the engagement work?
- 1
First assessment You describe your situation using the form. We assess which route fits. The first contact is free of charge.
- 2
Offer Before any chargeable work, we agree scope and costs transparently.
- 3
Court steps separately We agree court proceedings, representation, preliminary injunctions and disclosure proceedings separately. They are a separate service, on request and as needed.
Immediate measures
What should you do first now?
The first reaction can secure or lose evidence. These steps help without causing new harm.
Secure evidence Exact URL, name of the platform, profile name, account ID, date and time of discovery and a screenshot of the surroundings with caption and reactions.Record threats Fully secure threats, demands, chat histories and known recipients. Keep previous reports and platform decisions.Report to the platform Report the content via the platform's reporting form, with the exact URL rather than a general button. Note any other locations and re-uploads.Use StopNCII For adults, StopNCII can generate a hash on their own device. The file does not leave the device. Participating platforms can recognise identical files.State the age Note whether the person shown was a minor when the image was made. For images from childhood and adolescence, there is Take It Down.
No copies Do not copy the intimate file into new chats, emails or clouds.No warning Do not warn the opponent without a secured plan if evidence could disappear.No payment In cases of sextortion, send neither money nor further images.No false conclusion Do not assume that a Google delisting removes the source.
Action by level
Which level needs which goal?
Source, platform and search engine serve different functions. We document what has been removed, only hidden or remains accessible.
| Criterion | Addressee and evidence | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Secure the evidence | No contact with the opponent yet. URL, profile, date, context, chat and platform decision. | Do not unnecessarily copy or forward the image. |
| 2 Prohibit possession or distribution | Ex-partner, uploader or distributor. Attribution of the image, scope of consent, publication or threat. | A deletion demand must identify the affected files in a determinable way. |
| 3 Remove content at the source | Website, host or platform. Exact location and legal justification. | A general report without the exact URL can be too vague. |
| 4 Prevent further distribution | Responsible party and, where applicable, platform. First infringement, risk of repetition and known variants. | New edits are not always covered by the first prohibition. |
| 5 Reduce findability | Google and other search engines. Search results, image URL, name search and sensitive data. | Delisting does not remove the source file. |
| 6 Identify an anonymous user | Platform via court proceedings. Unlawful content and existing subscriber data. | The service does not have to disclose data it does not hold. |
| 7 Secure claims enforceably | Infringer. Cease-and-desist declaration, court order, judgment or settlement. | Technical removal and a legal title solve different problems. |
Two starting situations
Stored or already distributed?
Private storage and online distribution require different steps.
Earlier consent does not mean that intimate images may be kept permanently after the relationship. The Federal Court of Justice recognised a deletion claim for originals and copies where consent was limited to the duration of the relationship.
Which images are intimate and identifiable? Who has originals, copies, cloud backups or chat files? Is a confirmation of deletion enough or is court enforcement needed?
Whoever uploaded or forwarded the image is a different opponent from the platform, host or search engine. For visible removal, we first examine the platform report. A cease-and-desist title against the distributor protects against renewed publication.
Take out-of-court and court action against the uploader, create a platform report with the exact URL, examine the host and domain structure and have Google results delisted separately.
Special situations
What applies to threats, deepfakes or minors?
Some situations require their own steps.
Those affected should send neither money nor further images. We secure the message history, profile, demand, payment method and announced recipients. We then coordinate the platform report, criminal complaint and, if the perpetrator is known, a cease-and-desist claim or urgent legal protection.
We examine which subscriber data the service actually holds and whether a court disclosure application under Section 21 TDDDG is possible. Time matters, because data does not have to be stored indefinitely.
Google offers its own reporting procedure for real sexual images distributed without consent and for fake ones. In addition, there may be a delisting claim under Art. 17 GDPR.
Both tools generate a hash on your own device. They only work on participating platforms, Take It Down there on public or unencrypted services. They replace neither deletion at the source nor legal claims.
An artificially generated depiction can also violate the right to one's own image, the intimate sphere and one's social reputation. We examine origin, recognisability, message and platform obligations separately.
Do not re-download or forward the file to preserve evidence. Location, profile, chat and time are enough at first. Depending on age and content, special criminal law rules apply. In case of acute danger, call the emergency number 110.
Realistic goals
What does "having it removed" on the internet include?
One click does not eliminate all copies. We distinguish several outcomes so that what has been achieved remains verifiable.
Originals, copies and specific storage locations with the known owner or uploader.
The specific URL is removed or made inaccessible on the platform, website or at the host.
The link or preview image no longer appears in search. The source may still exist.
Secure against repetition legally
A declaration with a penalty clause or a court title creates an enforceable basis against renewed distribution.
Hash-based procedures capture identical files on participating services, but not every platform or edit.
A documented process for re-uploads prevents each new URL from being handled without reference to the previous enforcement.
Legal bases
Which legal basis serves which goal?
Federal Court of Justice
Federal Court of Justice, judgment of 13.10.2015, VI ZR 271/14
A deletion claim for intimate images can exist if, in the circumstances, consent to their creation and possession was limited to the duration of the relationship. The basis is Sections 823 and 1004 BGB (German Civil Code).
The general right of personality protects the intimate sphere also against private storage. Sections 823 and 1004 BGB by analogy are the basis for deletion, removal and cease and desist.
Under Section 22 KUG (Art Copyright Act), portraits may as a rule only be distributed or publicly displayed with consent. We examine exceptions narrowly on a case-by-case basis.
Art. 16 DSA (Digital Services Act) requires platforms to provide an accessible reporting route. The report should contain the legal ground, the exact URL, contact details and a statement of accuracy. The DSA creates the procedure, not the claim itself.
Art. 17 GDPR can apply against controllers and search engines. Exceptions such as freedom of information and the pursuit of legal claims must be examined. Section 21 TDDDG enables disclosure of existing subscriber data following a court order.
Under criminal law, depending on creation, content and disclosure, Section 201a StGB, Section 184k StGB and Section 33 KUG may be relevant. No offence covers every case of intimate images across the board. A criminal complaint and monetary compensation do not replace deletion. Directive (EU) 2024/1385 requires further national rules on the non-consensual sharing of intimate or manipulated material by 14 June 2027. Until transposition, current German law applies. For interim legal protection in personality rights, there is no nationwide uniform urgency deadline. Anyone who waits a long time without reason after becoming aware may weaken the urgency.
- Section 1004 BGB (by analogy with Section 823 BGB) Claim for removal and cease and desist.
- Section 22 KUG Right to one's own image.
- Section 201a StGB Violation of the most personal sphere of life by taking images.
- Section 184k StGB Violation of the intimate sphere by taking images.
- Section 21 TDDDG Disclosure of subscriber data.
- Art. 16 DSA Notice and action procedure of platforms.
- Art. 17 GDPR Right to erasure.
- Directive (EU) 2024/1385 Combating violence against women, transposition by 14.06.2027.
- StopNCII Hash-based protection for adults.
- Google: remove intimate images Reporting procedure for non-consensual intimate images.
Limits
Where are the limits of what can be done?
We say openly what can be achieved legally and technically.
- 1
No guarantee for every copy Private copies outside known storage locations cannot be reliably captured.
- 2
Delisting is not deletion Search engines hide results. We remove the source separately.
- 3
Disclosure only of existing data A service does not have to generate data it does not hold.
- 4
The decision remains yours You decide whether we act out of court or in court.
What you can expect as a result
- A documented overview of which URL was removed, which result was delisted and which cease-and-desist obligation has been secured.
- Coordinated demands to each addressee instead of blanket deletion requests.
- Discreet and confidential handling of the mandate.
- A clear line for new locations and re-uploads.
Your contact
Jean Paul Bohne, LL.M., MM, CIPP/E, CIPM
Lawyer and mediator · Partner · Specialist lawyer for IT law · Specialist lawyer for copyright and media law
View profile: Jean Paul Bohne Düsseldorf, Schirmerstraße 80 · Hamburg, Palmaille 124
TOP lawyer 2027 · Business lawyers · Intellectual property
F.A.Z.-Institut and QuantiQuest. Based on recommendations from peers and assessments by in-house counsel. Source (opens in a new tab)
FAQ
What do those affected ask about intimate images?
Does an ex-partner have to delete intimate photos after a separation?
A deletion claim can exist even though the images were made consensually. According to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe (VI ZR 271/14), what matters is whether consent was limited to the duration of the relationship and how strongly the images affect the intimate sphere.
Can I take action against the mere keeping of the images?
Yes. The Federal Court of Justice case concerned precisely images on the former partner's storage media. Publication is not strictly required for a deletion claim against the person in possession.
What do I do if someone threatens to publish?
Send neither money nor further images. Secure the message history, profile, demand, payment method and announced recipients. After that, a platform report, a criminal complaint and, if the perpetrator is known, a cease-and-desist claim and urgent legal protection come into consideration.
What should I do if nude photos are already online?
Secure the locations and context. We then take separate action against the uploader, the platform or host and the search engine. Removal by a platform does not automatically eliminate the source, search results or the risk of repetition.
Can Google completely delete intimate images?
No. Google can delist search results and preview images and offers its own reporting procedure for real and AI-generated intimate images. The file on the original page must also be removed by the operator, the platform or the host.
What can I do if the uploader is anonymous?
Under the conditions of Section 21 TDDDG (Telecommunications Digital Services Data Protection Act), a court order for disclosure of existing subscriber data can be applied for. The service does not have to generate data it does not hold. Success therefore also depends on the platform.
Is publishing intimate images always a criminal offence?
Not every set of facts falls under the same criminal offence. Depending on where the image was taken, its content, how it was made and how it was passed on, Section 201a StGB, Section 184k StGB (German Criminal Code) or Section 33 KUG may apply. We examine civil claims separately.
Can I claim monetary compensation?
In the case of a serious violation of personality rights, monetary compensation may come into consideration. What matters are severity, reach, duration, fault and the possibility of other remedies.
How quickly do I have to act?
If distribution is threatened or ongoing, the situation should be assessed immediately. There is no fixed statutory urgency deadline, but waiting a long time can weaken the urgency. Document the date of discovery and previous reports from the outset.
What applies to deepfakes and deepnudes?
Artificially generated intimate images can also violate personality rights and the right to one's own image. Important are the locations, account data and whether you are recognisable. You do not have to prove authenticity yourself.
What applies if the image was made before the 18th birthday?
Do not download the file or forward it, not even to us. Secure the location, profile and time. The police and investigating authorities take care of securing the file. Take It Down can help in addition.
Will the other side learn of my enquiry?
No. Your enquiry remains confidential and is subject to legal professional privilege. You decide, after the first assessment, whether and when we write to the other side.
Do I have to send the intimate file?
No. You decide yourself whether to upload files via the form. For the first assessment, we usually only need the URL, profile name, date, redacted screenshots of the surroundings, threatening messages and previous platform decisions.
Next step
Shall we assess your situation confidentially?
Let us know whether the image is stored, threatened, published or findable via search engines. We examine the appropriate opponent, the urgency and the sensible order of measures. Representation is possible throughout Germany.
Helpful for your enquiry
- Where the image is or was found
- Who may be the responsible party
- Which steps have already been taken
- Files optional via upload
We ask specifically for details and documents after our first response.
Enquire confidentially
An initial and an email address are enough for the first contact.
We use your details and files to review your enquiry and give you an initial assessment (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). If your description contains information about health, sex life or intimate images, we process it exclusively to examine and enforce your claims (Art. 9(2)(f) GDPR). All information is subject to legal professional privilege. More in our privacy notice.
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