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Questions
Short answers, with links to more detail.
Will the person who posted it know I reported them?
Possibly. Many platforms keep reports confidential, but the person might guess. The TAKE IT DOWN Act doesn't guarantee anonymity. Copyright notices carry more risk: some sites forward your name and details, or publish the copyright owner's name. Compare the options
What if I sent the image willingly at first?
Sending an image privately, or agreeing to it being taken, is not the same as agreeing to it being posted. The law recognizes that difference. Things can get more complicated if the image was published commercially or with a contract, and some platforms have separate processes for withdrawing consent you once gave. Options if your published content was reposted
Can I sue?
Possibly. A federal law, 15 U.S.C. § 6851, lets people sue over certain nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, allowing either your actual damages or a set amount of $150,000, plus attorney's fees and costs, in qualifying cases. State laws may also apply. The TAKE IT DOWN Act itself doesn't let you sue a platform for missing the 48-hour deadline. Talk to a lawyer about your situation. Finding legal help
Do I need a lawyer?
Not to send removal requests. Everything on this site is designed so you can do it yourself. A lawyer helps if you want to sue, receive a copyright counter-notice, or a platform refuses to act.
Will it ever be completely gone?
No one can honestly promise that every private copy is gone. But removal, search delisting, and fingerprint blocking make images much harder to find and share. That's worth doing, and you don't have to search forever.
Does it matter if it's fake or AI-generated?
You can still get help. The TAKE IT DOWN Act covers realistic fakes, and many platforms ban fake sexual images more broadly. A copyright notice usually won't work for fakes. More on AI images
What if the platform says no?
Ask them to explain exactly what's missing from your request, and fix it if you can. If you sent a valid TAKE IT DOWN request to a covered platform and it wasn't acted on within 48 hours, you can report it to the FTC. You can also try the site's host or, if you took the image, a copyright notice.
What if the site is outside the U.S.?
Try the site's own reporting process, search engine removal, and the hosting company. Some foreign sites respond to copyright notices voluntarily. Results vary, and no letter can guarantee an overseas site will comply. Help outside the U.S.
Do I need an account on the platform to report?
No. The FTC says the law's protections aren't limited to people with an account. If a platform makes you create one just to ask for removal, you can report that to the FTC.
Can someone else send the request for me?
Yes. The law lets a person you've authorized send it on your behalf, and each template has that option. Someone can also file the FTC report for you. Helping a friend
Do you save anything I type?
No. Templates and the questions run in your browser and disappear when you close the tab. Our privacy page explains exactly what we do and don't do.