How to avoid the risk of revenge porn

Almost never share intimate content. Avoid sending overly personal material. Report it immediately and request its removal.

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ll revenge porn (or “non-consensual pornography”) is the dissemination or threat of dissemination of intimate images or videos of a person without your consent, often by an ex-partner for revenge, control or blackmail.

In Italy it is a crime: it was introduced into the Penal Code with art. 612-ter (law on the "Red Code"). Whoever commits it can be punished with imprisonment of up to several years, especially if the material is shared online or via social media. Unfortunately, the phenomenon is increasingly widespread, and is associated with pornographic or sexually explicit videos and images created using artificial intelligence. 

Around a thousand cases are reported to the Italian Data Protection Authority each year. 

The damages 

It's not just about “privacy,” and revenge porn can cause: 

  • public humiliation and social stigma
  • damage to reputation 
  • anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress
  • job loss or school problems
  • cyberbullying and further blackmail.

What to do immediately

If you find yourself in the unpleasant situation of being a victim of revenge porn, the things to do immediately are: 

1) Report immediately

  • All Postal and Communications Police, which deals with online crimes
  • Call emergency numbers if there is blackmail or threats

2) Request the removal of content

  • On platforms (Instagram, Telegram, websites, etc.)
  • Using the “Report Non-Consensual Content” forms
  • Content can often be removed quickly if reported correctly

3) Preserve evidence

  • Screenshot
  • Link
  • Threatening or blackmail messages
    (They are essential for the investigation)

4) Legal complaint

  • It can be made to the Postal Police or the Carabinieri
  • It is also possible to ask for legal assistance and psychological support

How to prevent it

To defend against a phenomenon as widespread as revenge porn, it is not enough to intervene promptly when it occurs.

Some concrete preventive measures are needed, such as these: 

  • Don't share intimate content unless there is full trust (even then, the risk is never zero)
  • Avoid sending material that can clearly identify you
  • Use apps and chats with care (even “private” conversations can be saved)
  • If you are in a toxic or controlling relationship, stop sharing immediately.

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