Possession and distribution
Saving, downloading, or sharing sexual content can have legal consequences. Understanding them requires considering the ages of those involved, consent, what happened, and the applicable law.
Three important distinctions
General information alone cannot determine whether a particular action is a criminal offense.
The age of the person shown
Criminal laws specifically address child sexual abuse material. It should not be treated as consensual sexual content involving adults.
Consent to sharing
Receiving an adult's intimate image, or finding it already circulating online, does not mean you have permission to share it.
The conduct and the applicable law
Laws distinguish between producing, accessing, possessing, and distributing content. Intent, knowledge, and circumstances matter. Receiving something you did not request does not automatically establish criminal responsibility.
If you find or receive concerning content
Stop it from spreading
Do not forward, publish, or download it to check what it contains. Discourage others from sharing it further.
Report without making copies
Record the link or sender's details. If it may show child sexual abuse, check IWF's reporting service and report it on the platform too.
Get advice about your situation
If you are unsure about a file you received, seek guidance from the relevant authorities or a legal professional in your country. Follow their advice on handling the content.
Information by country
Check the conduct, penalties and official reporting channels for the country you need.
Explore help resourcesSources and further reading
- Council of Europe · Lanzarote Convention, Articles 20 and 25
- IWF · Reporting suspected child sexual abuse images
- eSafety · Consent and image sharing
Content reviewed on October 4, 2026. Sources may describe services or laws specific to one country.