Step 1Don’t share it, and don’t reply
Don’t share it, and don’t reply
Don’t reply to the person. NeedHelpNow.ca says: “If you get texts, DMs, or if anything is posted about you, do not respond. In the thousands of cases we have seen, responding makes the harassment worse. The most effective way to reduce harm is to STOP CONTACT.”
Don’t send the picture or video to anyone. Take It Down, a service for people under 18, says: “Please do NOT send, share, or download any image or video in order to submit to Take It Down.”
If someone is threatening to share an image of you, Cybertip.ca says: “Never pay money and never send additional nudes. Do not give in to threats.”
Step 2What to keep
What to keep
NeedHelpNow.ca tells you to save the messages. Its words:
- “Before you stop contact with the person, screenshot all the messages. Depending on the situation, you may want or need to share them with a safe adult or police.”
- “Try to avoid going back and reading what you have saved. The more you read the messages, the more distressing things may feel.”
Not sure what to do with the image or video itself? Ask NeedHelpNow.ca or Cybertip.ca before you do anything with it. NeedHelpNow.ca says its support team can “Help you figure out next steps”.
Step 3Report it where it appeared
Report it where it appeared
NeedHelpNow.ca says: “Report to the app, or directly to Cybertip.ca.”
When you report to an app or website, NeedHelpNow.ca suggests telling them:
- “Include your age: It is important to tell them if you are a child or youth.”
- “Say that you are the person in the picture/video: If you are recognizable in the picture/video, include this as well – this may give your report a higher priority.”
- “Say that you did not post the picture/video, did not agree to it being posted and want it removed: They need to know that you object to the continued posting of the picture/video.”
After you report, NeedHelpNow.ca says to delete and block the person: “Ask your close friends to do this too, if they’re connected to the person through social media.”
Step 4Services that help get it taken down
Services that help get it taken down
Cybertip.ca’s page on AI and deepfakes lists Cybertip.ca, NeedHelpNow.ca and law enforcement as services that can help “if a sexually explicit deepfake has been created”.
NeedHelpNow.ca
NeedHelpNow.ca says: “NeedHelpNow.ca is owned and operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.” It also says: “If you have been harmed online or are worried a nude or abusive image of you under the age of 18 is being shared online, we are here to help.” Cybertip.ca says NeedHelpNow.ca “is designed to provide youth (13 to 17 years old) with practical steps to regain control over the situation.”
NeedHelpNow.ca says its support team can:
- “Help you figure out next steps”
- “Send notices to assist with having offending accounts suspended and/or removed”
- “Send notices to platforms through Project Arachnid, our tool to help take down abusive images”
- “Help connect you to additional services like counselling/therapy, peer support, or victim services that are a right fit, and available in your area”
Cybertip.ca
Cybertip.ca says: “Cybertip.ca is operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), whose goal is to prevent child victimization through a number of programs, services, and resources.” It also says: “If you are under 18 and someone is sharing an intimate image or video of you, there ARE steps you can take. We can help.” It says it “deals with online sexual victimization involving individuals under 18 years of age”.
“You can report concerns through our online report form or by phone at 1-866-658-9022.” For talking on the phone, it says: “Cybertip.ca can help provide you with more information about how to regain control of an image and/or the resources that may be available to help.”
About what happens after a report, Cybertip.ca says: “Once a report has been submitted, a Cybertip.ca child protection analyst will review the reported information and any supplemental information located through online searches. If the information pertains to a potentially illegal incident, the report is sent to the appropriate law enforcement agency.”
Take It Down
Take It Down says: “Take It Down is a free service that can help you remove or stop the online sharing of nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit images or videos taken of you when you were under 18 years old. You can remain anonymous while using the service and you won’t have to send your images or videos to anyone. Take It Down will work on public or unencrypted online platforms that have agreed to participate.”
It also says: “Your image or video remains on your device and is not uploaded.” And: “You must have the image or video on your device.”
About its limits, it says: “Online platforms may have limited capabilities to remove content that has already been posted in the past.”
Take It Down’s pages talk about images or videos “taken of you”. They don’t say whether it can be used for a fake image, so ask NeedHelpNow.ca or Cybertip.ca if you’re not sure.
Step 5Tell a trusted adult
Tell a trusted adult
NeedHelpNow.ca says: “Speak to a safe adult (maybe a parent, teacher, or school counsellor) for support. Adults are there to help you and want to know what’s going on. It is their job to protect you.”
It adds: “If you can’t think of a safe adult to talk to, contact our support team for help on what to do next.” Cybertip.ca says: “If you can’t talk to your parents or guardians, tell a safe adult (e.g., teacher, counsellor, relative) about what is going on so they can help you address the situation.”
About police, Cybertip.ca says: “If your concerns involve being victimized online, it is very important to report to police or to Cybertip.ca.” It also says: “If your situation involves an adult who has or is sharing your intimate image/video, you should immediately report your situation to local police or Cybertip.ca.”
NeedHelpNow.ca says: “If you believe you may be in immediate danger or risk, call 911.” It also says: “If you feel like you have no support, and/or are in crisis, please reach out to Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 for immediate assistance.”
Helping
If you’re a parent, teacher or friend
Cybertip.ca suggests these ways to talk with young people:
- “Talk about the real impacts on someone who is victimized by someone else creating a sexually explicit deepfake image or video of them — even though the content isn’t real.”
- “Explain youths’ rights to safety, privacy, bodily autonomy, and sexual integrity.”
- “Share services that can help if a sexually explicit deepfake has been created, such as:” Cybertip.ca, NeedHelpNow.ca and law enforcement.
The same page says: “Report to Cybertip.ca if your youth is being targeted online.”
If you’re a friend, steps 3 and 5 are for you too. NeedHelpNow.ca says to ask close friends to delete and block the person. It also says to speak to a safe adult for support.
Can an app tell?
Can an app tell if a photo is fake?
No app or website can reliably prove that an image is fake.
That is why getting the image taken down, and getting support, matter most. Cybertip.ca says: “Although the images or videos are fake, the harm to those victimized is very real.”