If intimate images or deepfakes of you are online without your consent, you are not to blame. In the UK the law has tightened sharply in the last few years, and the rules now reach both the people who share this material and the platforms that host it.
Sharing intimate images is a criminal offence
Since the Online Safety Act 2023, section 66B of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes it an offence to share, or threaten to share, a private sexual photo or film without consent. The offence can carry up to two years in prison. It applies whether the person sharing it is a former partner, an acquaintance or a stranger who found the material.
Deepfakes: creating them is now an offence too
Section 138 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 added an offence of intentionally creating a sexually explicit deepfake of someone without their consent, including asking another person to create one. It came into force in England and Wales on 6 February 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own laws, so the position depends on where you live.
The platforms have duties as well
The Online Safety Act places legal duties on services that host user content, overseen by the regulator Ofcom. That means platforms are expected to deal with illegal content, including intimate image abuse, as part of how they are run, not only when a court tells them to.
Your data protection rights
Under UK GDPR you have a right to erasure in certain circumstances, and the Information Commissioner’s Office oversees how organisations handle personal data. Intimate images are among the most sensitive personal information there is, which strengthens the case in many situations.
Watch for false promises
Scammers target people in this position by promising instant, permanent deletion. Nobody can honestly guarantee that content will never reappear. If you are being blackmailed, do not pay, stop replying, keep every message and report it to the police.
Where to get support in the UK
You can report to the police, and the Revenge Porn Helpline offers specialist support for adults affected by intimate image abuse. A solicitor with privacy experience can advise on civil claims, and a specialist can take on the day-to-day work so you never have to look at the material again. This is general information, not legal advice, and laws change, so check the current position for your situation.
Free, confidential audit. Tell us what you are dealing with and we will give you an honest view of what is realistic before anything is billed. Get your free audit, or read more about our explicit content removal services.