Image-Based Abuse

Image-based abuse is a collective term for abuse in which intimate images or videos are used as a means against a person. This includes secretly recording, sharing without consent, threatening publication, and creating fabricated recordings. The term is increasingly replacing the misleading word “revenge porn” because this is not about pornography but about abuse, and because revenge is far from always the motive.

The Most Common Forms

• Secret recordings, for example in changing rooms, toilets, or bedrooms.
• Non-consensual sharing of images created in confidence.
• Threats of publication, often combined with demands for money or additional material, known as sextortion.
• Fabrications created through image editing or artificial intelligence.
• Misuse of legally created material, for example when a scene is deliberately sent to an employer or family members.

Does This Also Apply to People Who Work in Front of the Camera?

Yes, without exception. A common misconception is that anyone who publishes erotic recordings has thereby given up all protection. This is false. A consent form applies to a specific purpose, a specific channel, and specific material. Anything outside this scope is not covered. The article Right to One’s Own Image explains how extensive your rights are.

In concrete terms, this means that anyone who makes recordings in the dressing room, passes on raw footage, sends a video from a production to your employer, or places a private image next to your published scenes is not acting within the scope of your consent.

The consequences for affected people range from withdrawal and sleep problems to losing their job or home. People working in the industry also often hear the claim that they wanted it that way themselves. This claim is part of the abuse, not an explanation for it.

How Professional Sets Prevent It

Professional productions regulate who may film on set and with which device. Private phones have no place in makeup or the dressing room. Behind-the-scenes recordings are agreed on in advance and approved separately. Raw footage is stored in a location with restricted access. If such rules are missing, you may ask questions before changing clothes. If a private phone is pointed at you on set, you may interrupt and inform the contact person. The rules that apply to our bookings are set out under Safety.

Legal Situation

Unauthorized recording in particularly protected areas and sharing intimate recordings without consent may constitute criminal offenses. In addition, civil-law claims for injunctive relief and deletion may exist. The details depend on the case; when in doubt, seek legal advice.

If This Affects You

Secure evidence, including screenshots, source locations, messages, and dates. The order is important: secure everything first, then report it, because otherwise the evidence may be missing after deletion. Do not pay anything and do not negotiate. Report the content to the platform and request its removal. File a report with the police. Counseling centers against digital abuse and the nationwide helpline for women experiencing violence provide confidential support and help you sort out the next steps. The Counseling Center entry provides an overview.