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Stop revenge porn legally

First clarify the situation, then delete, prohibit or report

Intimate images, nude videos or sexualised content are used, threatened, stored or published without consent. Legally, the specific situation is decisive. We then align deletion, cease and desist, disclosure or urgent proceedings accordingly. We help to stop revenge porn legally, through deletion, cease and desist or a criminal complaint.

Enquire without details

Initial contact is free of charge. Before any costs arise, we will expressly point this out to you.

Response within 24 hours on working days

As of: 23 October 2026

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 before you report, block or delete. Note the URL, profile name, platform, date and time and secure messages in full.
  • 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
  • In case of threats, do not pay, do not send further images and do not respond to threats.
  • Where minors are involved, do not store or forward files. Securing them is a matter for the police. In case of acute danger, call the emergency number 110. Take It Down

Key points at a glance

Revenge porn, image-based sexual abuse and "revenge pornography" describe the same burden. Intimate images are used, threatened, stored or published without consent. Revenge porn is not a separate criminal offence. What matters are consent, possession, disclosure, publication, threat and recognisability. ITMR assesses the situation and then chooses deletion, cease and desist, disclosure, a criminal complaint or urgent proceedings.

Is this the right page for you?

  • This page is right if you first want to assess your situation: who has the images, are you being threatened, is it a criminal offence and is a complaint worthwhile?
  • The other page is right if the main goal is for the images to disappear: deletion, cease and desist, disclosure of the distributor or urgent proceedings. To removal

Starting position

What is your situation?

Revenge porn is not a uniform case. The right reaction depends on what is happening with the images.

Published, threatened, stored by the ex-partner or technically altered. Each of these situations starts at a different point.

Those affected speak of revenge porn or revenge pornography. This means intimate images, nude photos, nude videos, sex videos or manipulated content used without consent.

If the image is online, forwarded or visible in search results, the removal route against the platform, host, search engine and distributor counts. If someone demands money, further images, contact or silence, we first secure the threat, account, payment method and announced recipients.

If the former partner still has intimate images after the separation, or a deepfake is being distributed, the review starts at a different point. Legally, a revenge motive does not matter.

For whom
People affected by intimate images
Goal
Deletion, cease and desist, disclosure
First response
within 24 hours on working days
Files
optional, locations are enough at first

German law does not first ask about the term revenge porn. What matters are consent, possession, disclosure, publication, threat, recognisability and the reachable other side.

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.

Confidential assessment

Briefly describe your situation using the form. We will respond within 24 hours on working days.

Process

How do we proceed with revenge porn?

In three steps from the situation to the right legal route.

  1. 01

    Determine the situation

    Is it about published intimate images, images stored by the ex-partner, a threat, sextortion, deepfake content or an unclear mixed situation?

  2. 02

    Secure evidence

    Locations, profile names, chat histories, payment demands, threats and times should be documented before anything is reported, blocked or deleted.

  3. 03

    Choose the legal route

    Depending on the situation, deletion, cease and desist, disclosure, a platform report, search engine delisting, a criminal complaint, urgent proceedings or monetary compensation come into consideration.

Service

What do we take on in revenge porn cases?

Service package: revenge porn

  • Assessment of the situationWe separate publication, threat, possession and manipulation and identify the reachable other side.
  • Deletion and cease and desistDemand to the distributor or ex-partner, deletion of originals, copies and backups, and a confirmation of deletion.
  • Platform and search engineReport under Art. 16 DSA with the exact URL, review of the host and delisting from search engines.
  • Disclosure and urgent proceedingsCourt-ordered disclosure on anonymous accounts and preliminary injunction. Court steps are a separate service, on request and as needed.
For whom
People affected by revenge porn, threats and deepfakes
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.
Enquire confidentially

Who delivers what and who decides

What you provide
  • URL or profile link
  • Message history
  • Date you first became aware
What we take on
  • Assessment of the situation
  • Demands and reports
  • Court steps by agreement
Who decides
  • You, on goal and approach
  • In a dispute, the court

How does the engagement work?

  1. 1
    First assessment

    You describe your situation using the form. We assess which route fits. The first contact is free of charge.

  2. 2
    Offer

    Before any chargeable work, we agree scope and costs transparently.

  3. 3
    Court steps separately

    We agree court proceedings and representation separately. They are a separate service, on request and as needed.

Legal Evidence BuilderSecure screenshots, links and documents as structured, court-ready digital evidence for review by ITMR.

Four typical situations

What is the situation?

The right reaction depends on whether intimate images have been published, threatened, stored or altered.

Intimate image is online

An image or video is on a platform, an adult site, in a forum, in a messenger or in search results. We document locations, examine the platform and host, prepare delisting and assess cease and desist and disclosure.

Ex-partner has nude photos

Nothing has been published, but images are still held by a person to whom they were entrusted during the relationship. We narrow down images and storage locations, take copies and backups into account and demand a confirmation of deletion.

Threat with nude images

The other side demands money, further images, contact, silence or certain behaviour. We document the threat and coordinate the criminal complaint and evidence preservation. Payment and further images are not a solution.

Deepfake or fake profile

It is unclear whether real images, AI-generated nude images, fake profiles or anonymous accounts are involved. Do not distribute the material further, secure locations, do not assess the manipulation yourself. We determine the route for the claim.

Avoid immediate mistakes

What should not happen now?

The first reaction can secure or destroy evidence. It can reduce or increase the pressure.

Do not report before evidence is secured
  • Location Document the URL, profile name and platform.
  • Timing Record the date and time.
  • Messages Secure messages in full.
  • Search Capture search results and preview images.
Do not negotiate with the other side
  • No payment Do not pay out of panic.
  • No images Do not send any further images.
  • No justification Do not write justifications.
  • No counter-threat Do not respond to threats.

Minors

When minors are affected

If a minor is shown, files must not be copied, forwarded or uploaded for review. Securing them is a matter for the police and investigating authorities.

What to avoid

Do not forward to friends, family, school, platform helpers or a law firm. Even well-intentioned evidence preservation can create new risks.

What takes priority

Police, parents or guardians and professional help must act in a coordinated way. In case of acute danger, call the emergency number 110. Take It Down can help in addition.

Our part

We support coordination with investigating authorities and civil law steps against distributors. We do not need the files for this.

Helpful details

Which details make the assessment easier?

For the review, specific locations, messages and the chronological sequence count.

In case of online distribution
  • Location URL or profile link and name of the platform or website.
  • Account Visible account name.
  • Timing Date you first became aware.
  • Evidence Screenshot with the address visible.
In case of threats or extortion
  • History Complete message history and the specific demand.
  • Recipients Announced recipients.
  • Payment method Payment method or wallet address.
  • Material Note whether the material is real, alleged or manipulated.

Legal bases

Which legal bases apply?

For photos and videos without consent, claims under the right to one's own image under Section 22 KUG (Art Copyright Act) come into consideration.

For intimate images, a claim to deletion or cease and desist can arise from personality rights even without publication. The basis is Sections 823 and 1004 BGB by analogy.

Section 201a StGB is the first criminal law point to examine. Depending on the case, Section 184k StGB, coercion under Section 240 StGB, extortion under Section 253 StGB, threats, stalking, insult or Section 33 KUG may become relevant.

For online locations, we take separate action against the source, platform, host, search engine and distributor. Art. 16 DSA (Digital Services Act) governs the platforms' reporting route. Section 21 TDDDG enables court-ordered disclosure of subscriber data.

Sources

Limits

Where are the limits of what can be done?

We say openly what can be achieved legally and technically.

  1. 1
    No guarantee for every copy

    Private copies outside known storage locations cannot be reliably captured.

  2. 2
    Delisting is not deletion

    Search engines hide results. We remove the source separately.

  3. 3
    Criminal proceedings by the state

    The police and public prosecutor decide whether to investigate.

  4. 4
    The decision remains yours

    You decide whether we act out of court or in court.

What you can expect as a result

  • A clear assessment of your situation and the appropriate legal route.
  • Coordinated demands to each addressee.
  • Discreet and confidential handling of the mandate.

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 revenge porn?

Which criminal offences can be relevant to revenge porn?

Revenge porn is not a separate criminal offence. Depending on the case, Section 201a StGB, Section 184k StGB (German Criminal Code), Section 33 KUG, coercion, extortion, threats, stalking or insult come into consideration.

Is "revenge pornography" the same as revenge porn?

Yes, in everyday usage. Both terms describe cases in which intimate images or videos are used, threatened or published without consent.

Does the image have to have been published already?

No. For published images, the focus is on removal and cease and desist. For images held by a former partner, a deletion claim can come into consideration even without publication.

Does a revenge motive matter?

No. What matters are the image, consent, possession, disclosure, publication and threat.

What is important if someone threatens publication?

Document threats in a way that preserves evidence. Payment and further communication can increase the risks.

Which page fits if the images have already been published?

For published intimate images, the page on intimate images covering deletion, cease and desist, disclosure and action against platforms is the right starting point.

What applies to deepfake nude images?

Manipulated or artificially generated intimate content can also violate personality rights. Important are the locations, account data and whether a real person is recognisable.

What applies if minors are affected?

Then files must not be stored, copied or forwarded. Securing them is a matter for the police and investigating authorities.

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 and message history.

Will the other side learn of my enquiry?

No. Your enquiry remains confidential and is subject to legal professional privilege. You decide whether and when we write to the other side.

Next step

Shall we assess your situation confidentially?

If intimate images have been published, are held by the ex-partner or are being used as leverage, the situation should be sorted out first. Then it is clear whether deletion, cease and desist, disclosure, a criminal complaint or urgent proceedings take priority.

Helpful for your enquiry

  • What happened, in a keyword
  • Where the image was found
  • 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.

Your contact details

Your message

e.g. deadline from an Abmahnung (formal warning letter)

Attach files

Upload relevant documents (optional)

FilesOptional

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.

Related services

From our blog: Remove intimate images from the internet · Deletion of intimate photos held by the ex-partner · Extortion with nude images