Sexual content
When we talk about sexual content we are talking about photos, videos, text or sounds.
It can be a photo that show genitalia, videos of sexual act or sexual texts or sound.
Nude photos, videos and digital sexual abuse
Digital sexual abuse is when someone takes or shares sexual content of you without permission. It is also illegal to threaten to share sexual content or send unsolicited sexual content.
You always need consent to share sexual content of other people
What is allowed?
It is perfectly fine to make sexual content of yourself or others if everyone involved agrees to it. There’s a certain risk involved so it’s important that you trust everyone involved.
It is illegal for anyone to record, share, or publish sexual content of you without your permission. The same applies if someone threatens to do these things or pressures you to do them.
It is also a crime if someone sends you sexual content of themselves without your permission.
This is usually called digital sexual abuse because most often digital devices are used, such as the internet and smartphones. But the same applies to film photographs or other content that is not digital.
Sometimes this is also called “revenge porn” or image-based sexual abuse but the legal term is a violation of sexual privacy.
Faked sexual content
- Faked sexual content is content that was created and doesn't show reality.
- It can show a person doing or saying things they have never done.
- It can for example show a nude photo of a person's face on another person's body.
- AI is often used to create faked sexual content but other applications can be used.
- The content can be photos, videos or sounds.
It is just as illegal to share faked sexual content of a person as real sexual content.
Is a sexual photo being circulated? You can do something about it:
What helps the police investigation?
Take screenshots or screen recordings of all messages
- This can help the police, especially if the person sending the messages deletes them on their end. Make sure the username, phone number, or other such information is visible in the screenshots.
Write down information
- Information such as where the communication started, where it moved to (for example, from a dating app to Snapchat), and other similar details.
Talk to the police first
- Do not delete messages, pictures, or anything else before the police have made a copy of all helpful data.
- If possible, do not block the person until you have spoken to the police. You can mute notifications and use other settings that prevent you from seeing the messages. If the messages are having a very negative mental impact, it is better to block the person even if you have not spoken to the police.
Digital sexual abuse
People who experience digital sexual abuse can feel very upset, humiliated, ashamed, and worried. Experiencing digital sexual abuse can have just as severe consequences as sexual abuse in the real world.
Some examples of digital abuse can be someone...
- sends you unsolicited sexual photos, videos, sounds or messages.
- takes sexual pictures, videos or sounds of you without permission.
- shares sexual content of you on websites or with others, for example a photo, video, audio recording, or message.
- shares counterfeit sexual content of you.
- pressures you to send them nude photos or videos of yourself.
- threatens to circulate sexual content of you.
It is also illegal to forward sexual content of other people if you don’t know whether the person has given permission. Even if you can send the picture, you shouldn’t do it.
Can teenagers send nude photos of themselves?
It is OK for teenagers aged 15-18 to send sexual content of themselves to others of a similar age and maturity level – if everyone involved consents and trusts each other. There is still always a risk that accompanies sharing a sexual photo with others.
It is always illegal to send a sexual photo to someone who didn’t ask for it, for example a dick pic.
Children cannot give consent and it is always illegal when adults (over 18) make sexual content involving children (under 18) or send them sexual content.
Here is advice for children and teenagers who experience harassment online.
Responses to illegal sexual photos
Do you need a reply for when someone sends you a nude photo that you didn’t ask for? Or when someone asks you to send a nude photo of yourself? Here are ideas for replies that say what is illegal.
Get help
It is always better to tell someone if you have experienced abuse, no matter how long ago it was. You can contact Stígamót, an organisation that helps people 18 years and older who have experienced sexual abuse. Children and teenagers under 20 can get advice on the webchat Sjúkt spjall.
More information
Consent
Giving consent of one’s own free will is necessary in sex and sexual activities. Anything else is sexual abuse.
