It’s time to do a digital health check and ensure any intimate images on your device stay private and secure if you are concerned about intimate image abuse or have experienced such abuse.
StopNCII.org (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse) is a free global tool to protect your intimate images from being shared by perpetrators of intimate image abuse. It can also track and take down non-consensual intimate images which have already been shared on partnering platforms
This issue has been highlighted by the BBC Panorama documentary ‘The Secret World of Trading Nudes’ which aired on Monday 22 August. The programme investigated where thousands of intimate images have been gathered into collections and traded, shared and then re-shared on websites without owners’ consent or knowledge.
How StopNCII.org Tackles Non Consensual Intimate Image Sharing
A ground-breaking tool which was launched in December 2021, StopNCII.org creates a digital fingerprint, known as a hash, of your intimate image so it can be blocked from sharing on participating platforms and taken down if already shared.
It is operated by the Revenge Porn Helpline at SWGfL and was developed in partnership with Meta. Currently, companies which receive cases are Instagram and Facebook
It is important to note that images are never transferred to nor saved on the StopNCII.org website: the image never leaves your device. Instead, a unique hash is created when the image is scanned ensuring only the hash is shared with the partnering platforms who will then be able to block and take down any intimate images that match.
If someone tries to upload an image that has already been hashed on StopNCII.org, it will be automatically blocked. If an image has already been shared, platforms will remove it. The tool puts the power and control back into the hands of anyone who is a victim of non-consensual intimate image abuse. It is for adults only (18+) and is globally available. Since the launch it has provided cutting-edge technology for online safety and protection.
Below we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about StopNCII.org:
What is Non-consensual intimate image sharing?
NCII is the act of sharing intimate images or videos of someone, either on or offline, without their consent
Who are the victims of intimate image abuse?
Anyone can be a victim of adult intimate image abuse, regardless of their gender and sexuality.
Why would someone share another’s image without their consent?
In some cases, the sharing of intimate content may be an act of perceived “revenge” to a person after a relationship breakdown, though this horrible act can be done for many motivations, or none at all.
What if someone else is with me in the image I want to submit?
If the images are of you, you are over 18 years of age, and it is intimate in nature or depicts any sexual act, you can submit the images to be hashed.
Regardless of who else is in the image, if you are depicted in an intimate image and it is shared without your consent, this is NCII and you can submit this image to the hash bank.
Is it illegal to share someone else’s image without consent?
In the UK, it is an offence to disclose a private sexual photograph or film without the consent of an individual who appears in the photograph or film, with the intention of causing distress. In 2021, the threat of sharing non-consensual images also became illegal.
How To Contact StopNCII.org
StopNCII.org is free to use and can be accessed by adults who feel their intimate images may be shared online. To use this tool users must be :
- 18 years or older in the image. If the image is of someone younger than 18 years old, please contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or Internet Watch Foundation for support.
- The image contains nudity, semi-nudity or engaging in sexual acts
- The image must be on your device which can be mobile phone, tablet or laptop
To access this tool and get further advice on non-consensual intimate image abuse, go to the StopNCII.org website.
