Tech Safety Pt. 2
Dealing with Revenge Porn
As much as it can be fun to send a "spicy" image of yourself to a significant other, it can also be used as a weapon against you. Here are tips to try to mitigate the risks.
Make a list of images and videos that may exists.
Consider using Facebook’s program that prevents other people from uploading sexual images that have been registered and “hashed” with the company. However, you would need to send those photos to Facebook for the program in order for the images to be recognized and removed from Facebook and Instagram.
If safe to do, ask the ex-partner to delete the images after the relationship ends and tell them that there is no consent to share them. Document this communication.
Consider whether the abuser may have been able to capture images without consent (i.e., hidden camera, screen capturing sex via Zoom or Skype).
Do a reverse image search on Google for images.
Search common pornography sites for your name. People are often doxed and named when their images are shared.
Set up a Google alert for your name, this can help alert a person when your name is mentioned online if it is posted along with your images.
Consider alerting family, friends, and co-workers who may receive the images to reduce the harm.
If the image has been shared without consent, see the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative guide to getting content taken off the internet: https://www.cybercivilrights.org/online-removal/
Report to social media companies or porn companies, most have policies that forbid non-consensually shared nude images.
If sharing intimate images consider harm reduction strategies:
Avoid images with your face or identifying marks (tattoos, birthmarks)
Avoid images in places that are identifiable (is the room recognizable?)
Use programs like Signal that allow for disappearing messages
If images have been released, consider using a reputation service to help get the content removed.
Google alerts
Set a Google alert for your name to be notified when your name appears online. This will not find all places where your name is posted, but can alert to some instances. Make a Google alert for all versions of your name (i.e., “Victoria Chan, Vickie Chan, Vicky Chan”).
