Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)
At Report Harmful Content, our mission is to address harmful content across various platforms. However, while we aim to tackle a wide range of issues, we are unable to address Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involving individuals under the age of 18, as it is illegal. Nevertheless, we are committed to offering information and guidance to ensure you get the support you need.
If you're under 18 and have experienced the sharing of private images online, we strongly encourage you to confide in a trusted adult. Whether it's a teacher, parent, or another trusted individual, sharing your experience can lead to support and the right action. Alternatively, you can reach out to Childline for confidential support and guidance.
For more details on why we cannot address certain content and, more importantly, where to find the necessary support, please refer to the information provided below.
You're not alone, and help is out there.
It is against the law in the UK to share (and threaten to share) an explicit image or video of a child, even if it’s shared between children of the same age. It Is also against the law for someone to possess, download, or store an explicit image or video of a child, even if the child gave their permission for it to be created. This law was designed to protect children, not to get them in trouble.
Is it against the law for under 18s to take and send intimate images?
Creating explicit images of a child is illegal, even if the person doing it is a child. It is against the law in the UK for someone under the age of 18 to take an explicit photo or video of themselves or a friend.
In 2016, 'Outcome 21' was established to allow UK Police to manage 'sexting incidents' without any formal criminal prosecution if this is done between young people of the same age and within a healthy relationship.
Some people form relationships (online or offline) with young people because they want to use them for sex or to do sexual things with them. For example, a young person may be persuaded or forced into sharing nude images online or take part in sexual activities.
People who do this want to gain trust to get power over young people. They may do and say things to make the young person think they are a friend, or a boyfriend or girlfriend. They may offer money or gifts to pressure them to do things. They might also use threats and or try to make the young person feel bad about themselves, or ashamed about something that isn’t their fault.
In some cases, they might try to blackmail the young person by saying they will share nude pictures, videos or something else embarrassing with their friends and family if they don’t do what they say.
This is child sexual exploitation (CSE) and is a crime.
It would be against the law for a Revenge Porn Helpline practitioner to view or search for any explicit images of under 18s. It is not within our specialist remit to search or remove this kind of illegal content.
It is also important that you do not look for or share the content any further.
While we would always encourage you to tell a trusted adult about what has happened, such as a teacher, parent or trusted adult, we understand that this can sometimes feel hard and embarrassing. Please find below further emotional support organisations who can support you with what has happened.
Childline
Open 24/7 to help and support children anywhere in the UK. You can call them on 0800 111 or see their website for further help and advice. The Report Remove tool allows young people to report content to the IWF with support from Childline.
The Mix
A UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via a helpline, webchat and also offer access to online counselling. Call on 0808 808 4994 open daily between 4-11pm.
YoungMinds
Young Minds Text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are under 18 and experiencing a mental health crisis. To access the Crisis Messenger, Text YM to 85258 or visit the website for more help and support.
The IWF works internationally to make the internet a safer place for everyone. They help victims of child sexual abuse worldwide by identifying and removing images and videos of their abuse. They actively look for child sexual abuse material online and offer the public a safe place to report this kind of content. They then have it removed, no matter where it’s hosted worldwide.
Every single time an image or video of child sexual abuse is viewed, the victim suffers repeat victimisation. The IWF are here to help stop that.
Take It Down is a free service and one step you can take to help remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18. It helps tech companies remove sexually explicit images or videos depicting children under the age of 18.
It was created for young people who want to regain control, and users may remain anonymous while using the service.
Report Remove is an online tool that under-18s can use to report sexual images or videos of themselves that have been shared online, to see if they can be removed from the internet.
Developed by experts from Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation, the tool provides a child-centred and non-judgemental approach to image removal.
CEOP is there to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online, and are unable to respond to reports about bullying, fake accounts or account hacking.
CEOP can help and give you advice, and you can make a report directly to them if something has happened online that has made you feel unsafe, scared, or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life or someone you have only ever met online. They take all reports seriously, and we will do everything possible to keep you safe.
Sexting is a term coined by the UK media to describe the sharing of intimate images amongst young people (under 18) using online technologies and social networking sites. Young people can often feel too embarrassed to come forward and ask for help if this has happened to them and this can lead to the image spreading further afield causing them more distress.
Whilst it is illegal for young people under the age of 18 to share intimate images in the UK, it’s not in the public interest to prosecute young people and there are measures police can take to help protect victims. If the police are involved in a particular incident make sure to ask them about Outcome 21 and how this can help.
If this has happened to you and you don’t want to ask a friend or adult for help, our resource So You Got Naked Online might be helpful.
Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child, gaining their trust for sexual purposes including sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or trafficking. This can happen online or offline.
A person may do this by:
Pretending to be someone they are not
Buying gifts
Acting as a mentor
Giving the child attention/flattery
Grooming is illegal and any suspicion or known grooming attempt should be reported to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency (CEOP).
If a young person is at immediate risk of harm please dial 999.