Someone used my picture to create CSAM, and now they want me to give them money or they will post it online. What do I do?

Recently there has been an increase in reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about youth, particularly males between the ages of 14-17, who are experiencing sextortion. This is when someone uses AI to create fake sexualized images of someone and threatens to share those images online or with others unless that person pays money or engages in other sexual behaviors, like sending them real sexualized pictures or videos.

Generative AI (GAI) is a critical issue that is getting more and more attention due to the harm it can cause when used in harmful ways. It’s important that people feel like they understand what GAI is, why it is abusive, and what steps they can take to stay safe. For more information about GAI, check out our FAQ How is AI being used to sexually exploit youth?

Getting help if images of you have been created using GAI

It can be incredibly scary and overwhelming to be in a situation where your images have been used to create sexually explicit content. No one deserves to have that happen, and it is illegal and abusive for someone to do this.

If you are under 18, it will be important to get an adult involved who can help you take some of these next steps, like reporting. You don’t have to figure this out on your own. This could be any safe adult that you feel comfortable talking to about difficult or scary topics and who would be able to speak up on your behalf - a parent, a friend’s parents, a teacher, counselor, doctor, or coach. This isn’t something you should get in trouble for - remember, people can use any public image posted online to create these kinds of images without someone’s consent. You did not do anything to deserve this happening, and you did not ask for this to happen. A safe adult can help make sure that you are safe, especially if the person who created these images is threatening, blackmailing, or manipulating you into paying them money or doing anything else that may be unsafe.

It might seem scary to talk to a parent or another safe adult about this; it is understandable that you might be afraid that you’ll be blamed, that people won’t believe that these images aren’t real, that rumors will start. But you deserve help and you don’t need to go through this alone. Our helpline can talk you through how to ask an adult in your life for help.

Making a report about GAI

If you believe that your images have been used to create sexualized images, which is actually considered child sexual abuse material (CSAM), or you know someone who is creating images like this using AI, you can make a report to Cybertipline. When you report, include information (if you know) about who created these images (whether it is their name, or their phone number/screenname they are using to contact you). By sharing also where the images have been shared online you can help authorities make sure that the person responsible is held accountable and that these images do not continue to be viewed and shared.

Another very helpful resource is Take It Down. This site is for young people concerned that sexually explicit images of them have been shared online to make an anonymous request to have these images removed. And Your Explicit Content Out There? shares information about how to report sexually exploitive content to specific platforms or internet service providers. Both of these resources are from NCMEC.

If you are creating GAI images yourself

Maybe you didn’t realize that creating sexualized images of someone using AI was abusive and illegal, and that specifically creating images of a minor could be considered sexual abuse. Or maybe you did but felt like because they aren’t real images they weren’t hurting anybody. No matter what the reason, using GAI to create sexualized images of a youth does cause harm and it is something that you can face serious consequences for. We don’t share this to shame or scare people who are creating images like this, but it is important to be clear that this is not okay and if you are creating images like this there IS help available to make safer choices.