The quicker someone knows photos of them are being shared, the quicker they can take steps to get them taken down.
If someone sent them to you, they probably sent them to others too.
It can be embarrassing to have that conversation but a lot of the time, the person in the photos is one of the last to know and the more time that passes, the more people can see (and possibly copy or share) the photos. The impact can then be even worse.
They might not have any idea that their photos are even out there at all and in this case, ignorance is not bliss.
Put yourself in their shoes and if you still don’t feel like you can get in touch with them, do you have a mutual friend that you could talk to? They might then feel more comfortable getting in touch with the person so that action can be taken.
All Social Media platforms have reporting tools and nudes would breach most of their standards. Report the message and Block the sender using the steps below
Taking a screenshot of the photo and any messages sent alongside it can help you with your reporting.
You can also report the images to Netsafe and they can take steps to get in touch with the person sharing the images (as well as the person shown in the images).
If you do want to reply, you have a range of ways to do this depending on the situation and how well you know the sender.
It can often be really weird, creepy or unsettling to receive a nude out of nowhere, especially if you know the person in the photo.
It can be helpful to share what happened with someone else so you can talk it through. You can get a different perspective, advice or work out what the best steps are together.
You will know who you feel most comfortable reaching out to.
This includes:
You can then get in touch with more support together if you need it.
It can sometimes be really tempting to share the photo with your friends as a ‘private joke’ or group chat.
Doing this, even within a closed group (especially when emotions are high) could make things spread really quickly because you do not control what your friends will do next and this could even put you at risk of having a complaint made against you for sharing a nude image without permission.
In New Zealand, if someone has shared nude photos or intimate images of someone without their permission, there are a number of laws they might be breaking.
This is ‘image based abuse’ and is a form of sexual harassment.
Under the Crimes Act, there are criminal remedies (or possible solutions) when someone has or shares nudes or intimate images that have been taken WITHOUT someone’s permission.
Examples of this could be photos or video taken with a hidden camera or up someone’s skirt/dress.
Criminal Remedies
Criminal remedies could include a fine of up to $50,000 (for an individual) or up to two years in jail.
There are also criminal OR civil remedies under theThe Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) if someone posts nudes or intimate images WITHOUT someone’s permission.
The criminal remedies do not apply to children (aged 0-13), but can be applied to young people aged 14-16 (within the youth justice system) and individuals aged 17+ (who are treated as adults within the formal criminal justice system).
Civil Remedies
Netsafe can support you with some civil remedies including working with both parties to reach a resolution, working with online content hosts (like Social Media platforms) but they cannot punish anyone or force them to do something.
Civil remedies could also involve a court order where a person can be forced to remove or delete content, give an apology or the identity of someone who posted anonymously revealed.
The Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) has remedies if photos or intimate images that were originally taken with someone’s permission are then shared (without permission).
Examples of this could be photos taken by a partner for private use that are then shared in a group or uploaded to a public site after you have broken up.
There are criminal and civil remedies.
Criminal Remedies
Criminal remedies could include a fine of up to $50,000 (for an individual) or up to two years in jail.
The criminal remedies do not apply to children (aged 0-13), but can be applied to young people aged 14-16 (within the youth justice system) and individuals aged 17+ (who are treated as adults within the formal criminal justice system).
Civil Remedies
Netsafe can support you with some civil remedies including working with both parties to reach a resolution, working with online content hosts (like Social Media platforms) but they cannot punish anyone or force them to do something.
Civil remedies could also involve a court order to remove or delete content, get an apology or have the identity of someone who posted anonymously revealed.
What other laws that might apply
Other laws that could apply are:
For more DETAILED information about the laws above and your rights related to Nude Images, check out the Sticks ‘n Stones Website.
Nikita talks about chatting to someone over Snapchat and starting to really like him and then what happened when she said no to his request for nudes.
Lara talks about feeling pressured to send nudes to a guy she was seeing and how she was blamed after they were shared. She talks about the impact that had on her mental health and gives her advice for getting through.
Nat talks about getting a dick pic from a friend’s account and not being sure how to react. Later she finds out that his account had been hacked so lets him know what happened.
Shannon talks about when a photo was taken up her skirt at her school without her knowing and then shared.
Eve talks about sending nudes in a long term relationship and how this stayed positive.
Mia talks about chatting with a guy online for a few months and then sending nudes after he had asked and how he wouldn’t talk to her afterwards.
Beth shares about her experience with a guy using his charm to try to get a nude from her friend, and from her.
Bailey talks about sending a nude and then being blackmailed to send more.
Steph talks about being asked to send nudes from her boyfriend and what happened when she said no.
Anna talks about being contacted by a stranger on Snapchat and being offered money to send him nudes.
Kelly talks about getting a ‘dick pic’ randomly, what she did about it and how it made her feel.
Cody talks about what happened to one of his friend’s when the guy she was with videoed them having sex and then shared it in groups online.
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