If intimate images of you have been shared without your consent — or someone is threatening to share them — you are not alone and you have real options. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) is the leading U.S. nonprofit dedicated entirely to this crisis, and its free resources have guided more than 32,000 survivors through the process of getting images removed, finding legal help, and understanding their rights.
This guide covers every major CCRI resource: the 24/7 helpline, the Safety Center, pro bono legal tools, state and federal law, research, and what changed after the TAKE IT DOWN Act became law in 2025.
What Is the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative — and Who Is It For?
CCRI is a free, nonprofit service for adult survivors of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). That includes anyone whose intimate images were shared or threatened to be shared without consent.
<cite index=”8-1″>The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative was founded in 2012 by Holly Jacobs</cite>, a survivor who started as a one-person grassroots campaign called “End Revenge Porn” after she found her own images circulating online. She connected with legal scholar Professor Danielle Citron, and together they built an organization with a three-part vision: change the laws, change public attitudes, and change how technology platforms respond.
<cite index=”2-1″>CCRI’s mission is to combat online abuses that threaten civil rights and civil liberties, with a vision of a world in which law, policy, and technology align to ensure the protection of civil rights and liberties for all. Its five programmatic areas include victim and survivor services, tech policy, legislative reform, research, and outreach.</cite>
Today, <cite index=”4-1″>CCRI is the leading organization serving thousands of victims around the world and advocating for technological, social, and legal innovation to fight online abuse.</cite>
Who CCRI Helps
CCRI serves adult survivors of:
- Nonconsensual Distribution of Intimate Images (NDII) — often called “revenge porn,” though CCRI discourages that term because it wrongly implies the victim did something to cause it
- Sextortion — threats to distribute intimate images unless the victim pays money, sends more images, or complies with other demands
- Sexually Explicit Digital Forgeries — AI-generated deepfake images that make it appear someone is nude or engaged in sexual activity
<cite index=”12-1″>It is important to know that you may be a victim of one or all of these acts. For example, a perpetrator may already have shared your image online and may be threatening to release additional images and may have manipulated and disseminated images of you.</cite>
Note: CCRI’s Safety Center is designed for adult victims in the United States. For minors, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is the recommended starting point.
How to Use the CCRI Image Abuse Helpline
The CCRI Image Abuse Helpline is the fastest way to get direct, personal support. It is free, confidential, and available every hour of every day.
Helpline number: 1-844-878-CCRI (2274)
<cite index=”18-1″>Compassionate and cross-trained representatives can provide information, support, referrals, and non-legal advice. The toll-free CCRI Crisis Helpline is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and interpretation is available in most languages.</cite>
Calling the helpline is the right first move if you are in emotional distress, unsure what steps to take, or need someone to walk you through the removal process in real time. Representatives are trained specifically for this type of abuse — they understand the trauma, the technology, and the legal landscape.
<cite index=”9-1″>The CCRI Crisis Helpline provides information, guidance related to image documentation and takedown, referrals to attorneys, and emotional support to victims of nonconsensual pornography, recorded sexual assault, and sextortion.</cite>
What to expect when you call:
- A trained advocate answers — not a general hotline operator
- They assess your situation without judgment
- They explain your removal options on specific platforms
- They connect you to a pro bono attorney if your case requires one
- They provide safety planning if you face ongoing threats
If physical danger is involved, call law enforcement first. The helpline handles digital harm, not immediate physical emergencies.
How to Use the CCRI Safety Center: A Step-by-Step Guide
The CCRI Safety Center is a free, self-guided online resource at cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center/. It walks survivors through every decision they may face after a violation occurs.
<cite index=”12-1″>The resources are designed to meet a range of needs. The guide contains thorough and detailed information; CCRI encourages survivors to take their time digesting it and consider asking a supportive friend or family member to help think through which steps are right for them.</cite>
Step 1 — Document before you report
Screenshot everything: the platform URL, username of the poster, date, and time. Store evidence in a secure cloud folder or encrypted drive. Do not delete anything yet — documentation is critical for both platform removal and any future legal action.
Step 2 — Report to the platform
<cite index=”15-1″>CCRI has a short list of contacts for major search engines, social media platforms, dating services, and pornography sites.</cite> The Safety Center links directly to the reporting portals of major platforms, including Google, Meta, Reddit, Snapchat, and adult content sites. Each platform has its own process; CCRI maps them clearly so you don’t have to dig for the right form.
Step 3 — Use the TAKE IT DOWN Act (U.S. survivors)
<cite index=”20-1″>Signed into law in May 2025, the TAKE IT DOWN Act makes it a federal crime to create or share sexually explicit images of someone without their consent — including AI-generated deepfakes. The law also requires online platforms to remove these images within 48 hours of a survivor’s request.</cite>
<cite index=”15-1″>By the end of May 2026, social media platforms are required to have a process to request the removal of nonconsensual intimate imagery, including deepfakes. There must be a plain-language form for anyone or authorized representative to report nonconsensual images of themselves. Companies that don’t comply could face enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, which can fine them $53,088 per violation.</cite>
Step 4 — Consider legal action
The Safety Center links to a directory of attorneys who offer pro bono or reduced-cost services for IBSA cases. CCRI also provides a plain-language guide to your state’s current law so you can understand your civil and criminal options before speaking to a lawyer.
Step 5 — Access emotional support
The Safety Center includes mental health resources alongside legal and technical ones. This is a trauma, not just a legal problem. CCRI treats it as both.
CCRI’s Legal Resources: State Laws, Pro Bono Help, and Federal Advocacy
Legal support is one of CCRI’s most powerful offerings — and much of it is free.
State Law Database
<cite index=”2-1″>CCRI provides tools that track laws in various jurisdictions and explain them to people in plain language.</cite> The interactive state law map on CCRI’s website lets you look up exactly what protections exist in your state, whether a law is civil or criminal, and what penalties apply to perpetrators.
<cite index=”10-1″>By 2015, CCRI’s efforts contributed to the passage of laws in at least 23 states addressing nonconsensual image distribution. CCRI’s model statutes provide victims with options for injunctions, damages, and attorney fees without requiring proof of criminal intent.</cite>
Pro Bono Legal Referrals
<cite index=”10-1″>CCRI operates directories of pro bono legal aid for affected individuals.</cite> The Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project was established in partnership with law firm K&L Gates to offer free legal assistance on image removal and perpetrator accountability. If your case requires an attorney and you cannot afford one, the helpline or Safety Center will connect you to available pro bono resources.
Federal Law: The TAKE IT DOWN Act
CCRI played a direct role in shaping federal legislation. <cite index=”14-1″>As the drafters of the first model criminal statute addressing the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images, CCRI has long called for a federal criminal law against NDII. The TAKE IT DOWN Act incorporates the language of the SHIELD Act, a bipartisan bill based on CCRI’s model federal statute.</cite>
CCRI’s position on the law is nuanced and worth understanding. While the organization supports the criminal provisions, <cite index=”14-1″>CCRI has serious concerns about the constitutionality, efficacy, and potential misuse of TAKE IT DOWN Act’s notice and removal provision — specifically that it lacks adequate safeguards against false reports and risks endangering the very communities it is dedicated to protecting, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and people of color.</cite>
This transparency about legislative limitations is exactly what survivors need to set realistic expectations.
CCRI’s Research: The Evidence Behind the Advocacy
CCRI is not only a victim services organization — it produces peer-reviewed research that informs law, tech policy, and prevention.
<cite index=”1-1″>CCRI and Florida International University published what may be the nation’s first large-scale, peer-reviewed study on sextortion during the COVID-19 pandemic, funded by the National Science Foundation. Initial findings revealed that those who experienced sexual intimate partner violence prior to the pandemic were more at risk for sextortion during the pandemic.</cite>
The research team, led by Dr. Asia Eaton at FIU, has published findings in major journals including Psychology of Violence, Violence Against Women, and Violence and Victims, with new publications appearing through 2025.
Key statistics from CCRI’s research that survivors and advocates should know:
- <cite index=”2-1″>1 in 8 adult social media users have been targets of NDII.</cite>
- <cite index=”11-1″>CCRI has provided support to over 32,000 victims and survivors of IBSA through the CCRI Image Abuse Helpline.</cite>
- Research published in 2019 estimated approximately 1 in 12 U.S. adults had been affected by nonconsensual intimate image distribution — a figure that has informed congressional testimony and state legislatures.
This research matters for survivors in a practical way: CCRI’s evidence-based approach means the guidance in its Safety Center and helpline is not guesswork. It reflects what actually helps victims and what actually works to get images removed.
Common Mistakes Survivors Make — and What CCRI Recommends Instead
Even well-intentioned actions can backfire. Based on CCRI’s guidance and advocate experience, here are the most common errors and the smarter alternatives.
| Common Mistake | What CCRI Recommends Instead |
|---|---|
| Deleting screenshots of the abuse | Preserve all evidence before reporting anything |
| Confronting the perpetrator directly | Contact the helpline first; direct contact can escalate threats |
| Paying sextortion demands | Payment rarely stops the abuse and marks you as a target for more |
| Assuming the law doesn’t apply | Use CCRI’s state law map — most states now have relevant statutes |
| Waiting to act because of shame | The violation is not your fault; early action improves outcomes |
| Using the CCRI contact form to send images | Never send images via email — use the helpline for secure guidance |
One misconception worth addressing directly: the term “revenge porn” implies the victim did something wrong or that the perpetrator is motivated by personal grievance. <cite index=”12-1″>CCRI discourages use of this label because the word “revenge” suggests that the victim-survivor did something to cause the violation of their intimate privacy and inappropriately places blame on the victim instead of the offender. Further, the phrase erases situations where the offender is motivated not by personal grievance, but instead seeks financial gain, social status, gratification of voyeuristic impulses, or simply fails</cite> to consider consent at all.
Using precise language — NDII, image-based sexual abuse — matters for both survivors’ mental health and for building legally viable cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CCRI helpline really free?
Yes. <cite index=”18-1″>The CCRI Image Abuse Helpline is available free of charge, 24/7.</cite> There is no cost to call, no cost for the referrals, and no cost for the guidance provided. Interpretation services are also available in most languages at no charge.
What if I live outside the United States?
The Safety Center is primarily designed for U.S.-based adult survivors, and the helpline’s direct assistance is focused on the U.S. However, CCRI’s website includes an International Resources section with guidance for survivors in other countries. The general educational resources, research, and platform-reporting guides are available globally.
Can CCRI guarantee that my images will be removed?
No organization can guarantee removal, and CCRI is transparent about this. Even under the TAKE IT DOWN Act, platforms may receive false reports that slow the system or may be slow to comply. CCRI’s guidance maximizes the likelihood of removal but cannot control platform behavior in every case.
What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
CCRI maintains a directory of attorneys who provide pro bono or reduced-cost representation for IBSA cases. Calling the helpline is the fastest way to get connected to legal help that matches your situation and location.
Does reporting to platforms make images go viral?
This is a common fear, and it is understandable. The evidence does not support the idea that reporting triggers wider spread. Reporting is generally the fastest path to removal. CCRI’s platform-specific guides walk you through each reporting process so you understand what happens after you submit.
What is a deepfake, and does CCRI help with that?
A sexually explicit digital forgery (deepfake) is an AI-generated image or video that makes it appear someone is nude or engaged in sexual activity, even when no such image actually exists. <cite index=”12-1″>Sexually explicit digital forgeries are often referred to as “deepfake” imagery and sometimes as “synthetic media.”</cite> Yes — CCRI explicitly covers deepfakes, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act now makes creating or distributing such imagery a federal crime.
How is CCRI funded?
CCRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It is supported by philanthropic donors and organizations, including Pershing Square. It does not receive payment from platforms, does not sell advertising, and does not charge survivors for its services. Donations support the helpline, legal project, and research programs.
What if I’m in physical danger right now?
Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. The CCRI helpline handles digital abuse and is not an emergency response service. Once you are physically safe, the helpline can help you address the online component.
Conclusion
The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative has built one of the most comprehensive free support systems available for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. The 24/7 helpline (1-844-878-CCRI), the step-by-step Safety Center, the state law database, pro bono attorney referrals, and peer-reviewed research all work together as a single, integrated resource.
The landscape has changed significantly in 2025 and 2026. The TAKE IT DOWN Act created the first federal criminal law against nonconsensual image distribution, and platforms must now have 48-hour takedown processes in place. But legal tools alone don’t replace the human support that CCRI provides — and they don’t replace the practical guidance survivors need to navigate platforms, preserve evidence, and make informed decisions.
If you or someone you know has been affected, start here:
- Helpline: 1-844-878-CCRI (2274) — free, 24/7, multilingual
- Safety Center: cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center
- State Law Map: cybercivilrights.org (under “Legislative Reform”)
- For minors: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
You do not have to figure this out alone.
Take the first step forward with our beginner-friendly expert guides.
