Someone has shared your intimate photos or videos, or is threatening to. It may be a former partner, someone you trusted, or a stranger who deceived you into sending them. Beyond the distress of the moment, there is something you should know right away: you are not powerless. Sharing that material without your permission is a crime, and you are the victim.
It is a crime, even if you took the image or sent it yourself
Article 197.7 of the Spanish Criminal Code punishes anyone who shares, without the affected person’s authorisation, intimate images or recordings that were obtained with their consent. This is the point many victims overlook: the fact that you took the photo, or sent it to someone you trusted, does not give anyone the right to make it public. Consenting to a recording, or to sharing something privately, is not the same as consenting to have it spread. These are separate things.
What you can demand
You are not limited to filing a report and waiting. As a victim, you can seek:
- Removal of the content wherever it has been published.
- A criminal conviction of the person responsible, taking part in the proceedings as a private prosecutor with your own lawyer.
- Compensation for the emotional harm.
- Protective measures against anyone harassing or threatening you.
More serious when it comes from your (former) partner
The penalty increases when the person sharing the material is your spouse or partner, or used to be; when the victim is a minor or a person with a disability; or when it is done for financial gain. In those cases the criminal response is harsher.
Why time matters
Here time counts twice over: to stop the spread before it goes any wider, and to secure the evidence of what happened. The sooner you step in, the more the reach can be contained and the stronger the case holds up. Tracing where the material came from, who moved it and how to prove it is technical ground, and that is where we work. You can read more under cybercrime.
One last thing
We handle this with complete discretion and without judging anyone. If you are going through this, you do not have to manage it alone.
Frequently asked questions
If I took the photo myself or sent it willingly, is it still a crime to share it?
Yes. The offence under Article 197.7 punishes precisely the sharing without your consent of intimate images that were obtained with it. The fact that you recorded or shared the image privately does not give anyone the right to make it public.
What can happen to someone who has shared my images?
The law provides for a prison sentence and a fine, which are increased if the person is your partner or former partner, if you are a minor or a person with a disability, or if it was done for financial gain. On top of that, you can claim compensation from them.
Can the content be taken down?
Yes, steps can be taken to request removal of the content and stop it from spreading. The sooner you act, the better the chances of containing it.
They are only threatening to share them. Can I do something now?
Yes. Threatening to share intimate images in order to get something from you can be a crime in itself. Do not give in and do not pay; get advice as soon as possible.