What it is and how to get help 

Alex* matched with a woman on a dating app. After some get-to-know-you conversation, the woman asked if they could exchange suggestive photos. She went first. After Alex sent a few in return, the person on the other end said that they would send the pictures to Alex’s family, friends, and colleagues if he didn’t send money.

What Is Sextortion? 

This kind of sexual harm is often referred to as “sextortion”—threatening to reveal nude photos or other evidence of sexual activity unless the victim provides money or even sexual favors. It’s one type of cyber sexual abuse and cases are on the rise. While most sex crimes disproportionately impact women, ‘sextortionists’ often target men.  

But these cases don’t always look like Alex’s. It can take many forms.  

Other examples of cyber sexual abuse include:   

• an abusive boyfriend threatening to send around your nude photos if you try to leave the relationship, 

• a partner who set up hidden cameras in the bedroom to record videos and posted them online without your knowledge, 

• an offender tormenting you with photos they took of you unconscious during a sexual assault, and more 

What is Non-consensual Dissemination?

Cases that don’t involve extortion—using threats to get money or something of value—often fall under the category of non-consensual dissemination, which is also often referred to as “revenge porn.” This is a term commonly used to describe the distribution of sexually explicit images or videos of individuals without their consent. This includes images or videos that were:   

• initially taken and shared with consent, such as nude photos sent to a partner within a trusting relationship,
• hacked or stolen,
• taken without the subject’s knowledge such as through hidden cameras or upskirt photos in public, and
• created and edited using deepfake technology (see more below).

Studies have found that nonconsensual dissemination can have similar psychological effects on survivors as sexual assault. If you are a survivor of non-consensual dissemination, there are resources and help available to you, and there is no shame in seeking help. 

What Are Deepfakes? 

Deepfakes are a newer trend in cyber sexual abuse. Deepfakes are artificially created media (such as videos, images, and audio) that are made to look like another person’s likeness and are often sexual in nature. One study found 96 percent of deepfake videos were nonconsensual pornography. As this technology develops, deepfakes are becoming increasingly realistic and harder to recognize as fake.  

In Illinois, it is both a crime and a civil violation to non-consensually share or threaten to share sexual photos and videos, including deepfakes. A civil case means a lawsuit between private parties (versus criminal, which means the government is filing against someone for a crime). 

Cyber Sexual Abuse Legal Options 

As technology changes and develops, so do legal options when it comes to cyber sexual abuse. Survivors can go to court and file a lawsuit against someone who shared or threatened to share sexual photos or videos, even ones that aren’t real but are edited to look like you using AI technology. Survivors can file under a pseudonym to be anonymous and protect their privacy. 

Regardless of how the images were taken, if nude photos or videos of you (or edited images that appear to be of you) are being posted online or exchanged through text, email, or social media, your state may have laws to protect you. Congress at the federal level is also starting to make laws against cyber sexual abuse, including deepfakes. The DEFIANCE Act, which stands for Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits, is a federal bill that recently passed in the Senate and is moving to the House. It would allow survivors of these kinds of deepfakes to sue people who create and share them. 

What You Can Do

If you are a victim of cyber sexual abuse, such as sextortion, non-consensual dissemination, or deepfakes, here are some things you can do: 

• Set all of your social media accounts to private and ensure that you don’t have any followers that you don’t know personally. 
• Don’t respond to someone, especially a stranger, who is extorting you. Once you start sending money, they will continue to push for more.
• Save all evidence. Make sure to keep the actual photos or videos in question, as well as any threatening conversations with the offender, witnesses, or other crime details until you have spoken with the police or a lawyer. Many victims of cyber crime feel fear, shame, or embarrassment. They may react by deleting evidence. This response is understandable, but remember that there is no shame in being a survivor of any kind of sexual exploitation, including cyber sexual exploitation. There is support.
• Consider filing a police report. If you decide to pursue this option, you will have to share the evidence you have—the video or images that are at issue. CAASE attorneys can talk to you about this process and help you decide if this is right for you. 
• If you are under 18, both the possession and distribution of sexual images or videos of you would also be considered child pornography. Please contact the police as soon as possible. Do not resend or delete the images without consulting the police or an attorney. 
• Contact an attorney who knows how to handle these cases, such as CAASE. Our attorneys can assist you with both civil and criminal cases in response to cyber sexual exploitation. We can also help you file a police report if you would rather contact us first to explore your options.

Getting Help

Alex found CAASE online and reached out for help. With our assistance, the images were never shared or made public. If you or someone you know needs assistance with sextortion or revenge porn as Alex did, please call our intake line at 773-244-2230, ext. 205 or email legal@caase.org.

Please note that CAASE works on cases that took place in Cook County, IL, and involve victims aged 13+. Minors do not need a parent or guardian’s permission to talk to us. We cannot assist with cases involving criminal defense, family court, or immigration. If we cannot assist with your case, we may be able to refer you to someone who can. 

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*Alex is a pseudonym for a real person represented by a CAASE attorney. Stock photography was also used to protect their identity.

CAASE originally published this piece on March 28, 2023. It was authored by Emily Jones and Hayley Forrestal with input from Elizabeth Payne. It was updated on August 12, 2024, by Lizzy Springer with input from Emily Jones and edited by Madeleine Behr. Learn more about our staff here.