Report and remove your images
Last updated on September 18, 2024
If someone shared (or threatened to share) an intimate image of you without your consent, there are several ways you can report it and/or get it removed from online platforms.
You can always contact the Intimate Images Protection Service to learn more about these options and get help with the pathway(s) you choose.
Make an Intimate Image Claim – Civil Resolution Tribunal
If someone shared (or threatened to share) an intimate image of you without your consent, on or after March 6, 2023, you can make a claim through the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT).
The CRT can order a person or online platform to:
- Delete or remove your intimate images,
- Provide financial compensation for damage caused, and/or
- Pay administrative penalties (if they don't comply with a protection order).
About the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT)
The CRT offers an accessible, affordable way to resolve civil law disputes without needing a lawyer or attending court.
The CRT is a civil law process, not criminal. It is an independent, administrative tribunal that makes decisions and issues orders about legal claims. These orders are enforceable in court, just like court orders.
Types of CRT claims for intimate images
| Intimate image protection order |
This type of "take-down" order is meant to make someone delete the image or stop them from sharing it. You can send this legal order to people or organizations directing them to remove the images immediately. |
| Intimate image damages claim |
Damages are money you want a person or company to pay you for the harm their sharing (or threats to share) caused you, or to punish them for their actions. The CRT can order up to $5,000 for this type of claim. If you want to claim more, you must make your claim with the Provincial Court (up to $35,000) or BC Supreme Court (over $35,000) instead. |
| Administrative penalty claim |
An administrative penalty is a type of fine. The CRT can order a person or company to pay an administrative penalty if they don’t comply with an intimate image protection order issued by the CRT or the court. This penalty is paid to the BC government, not to the CRT or to the person whose intimate image was shared without their consent. |
Evidence supporting your claim
You will need to provide evidence to support your claim. This usually includes the image (if you have it). If you don’t have the image or video evidence, there is other evidence you can provide, including information about the image, when and how it was shared, and who shared it (or threatened to share it). This can include text messages, screenshots, or witness statements.
Learn more about how to keep digital evidence.
Visit Civil Resolution Tribunal – Intimate Images for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Other Reporting Options
If you want to report, or learn more about your options for reporting, the Intimate Images Protection Service can explain your options, help you with applications, and provide emotional support.
Report or remove images of children/youth
- Project Arachnid is an automated web crawler and platform that detects child sexual abuse materials and sends removal notices to electronic service providers
- Take It Down can help remove or stop the sharing of intimate images
- Cybertip.ca is Canada's tip line for reporting the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children
Report to your school
- erase|Report It tool is an easy way to send a private message to your BC school or school district’s safe school coordinator.
- They will follow up on the situation right away.
- You can report anonymously or include your name – it’s your choice.
Remove or ‘deindex’ from search engine
- Removing your images from search results can help reduce distribution of these images.
- For Google Search:
- Remove content that is currently online
- Google Refresh Outdated Content to remove content from a website that is no longer live, but still showing up on Google Search
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative provides links for removing your images from Google, Bing, and Yahoo
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Deleting content from a search engine does not erase it from its original location, so it is still important to request removal from the original source as well.
Reporting to social media
- It is against the rules of most social media platforms for someone to share (or threaten to share) intimate images without consent.
- The process for reporting depends on the social media platform. These websites can help you find the information you need:
- Need Help Now and Take It Down can help remove your intimate images from Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and other websites/apps.
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative has links to reporting processes for major chatting apps, dating sites, and gaming, social media, and other sites.
- Stop NCII has links to reporting processes for major social media and online platform.
Report to adult websites and apps
- Many adult dating and pornography sites have rules that prevent the sharing of content that was non-consensually created or shared.
- The process for reporting depends on the social media platform. These websites can help you find the information you need:
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative has links for reporting to dating apps (e.g., Grindr, Tinder) and other adult sites (e.g., Pornhub, RedTube, YouPorn)
- Revenge Porn Helpline has links to reporting processes for Pornhub, XHamster, X Videos, and XXNX.
Report to police
- Call 911 to report an emergency or if you are in immediate danger.
- The non-consensual distribution of intimate images is a Criminal Code offence that can be reported to police.
- Police may investigate and decide whether to forward criminal charges to the Crown Counsel.
- To report to police, you can call your local police or RCMP (non-emergency line).
- You can report a crime in person, over the telephone, and (in some communities) online. See How to Report a Crime for more information.
- When speaking with police, you can bring an advocate with you, such as a trusted adult, counsellor, or support worker.
You can also learn more about your options through the Compass tool for navigating non-consensual image sharing and the Toolkit on Legal Remedies for Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence.
Contact information
The Intimate Images Protection Service provides support on weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm. For immediate supports outside of these hours, reach out for Crisis Support.