Can I really get an image taken off the internet?

Yes. The IWF Report Remove tool (with Childline) is built for under 18s. You upload the image to a secure system, IWF generates a digital fingerprint of it, and tech companies use that fingerprint to block it from being shared. You stay anonymous through the process.

What if it is a fake or edited image of me?

Fake nudes (including AI-generated ones) of a real under-18 are treated the same way under UK law. You can still use Report Remove, still report to CEOP, and the person creating or sharing them is committing an offence.

Sharing images: your rights and the law

Q: Will I get a criminal record if I tell someone I sent or received an image?

Not usually. UK policing uses an outcome called Outcome 21 to record incidents between young people without giving the young person a criminal record when that is the right call. Telling an adult and getting help is far less risky than trying to handle it alone.

Plain-English guide to nudes, intimate images, and what UK law actually says when you are under 18 and something has been shared.

If you are under 18, any sexual or nude image of you counts as an indecent image of a child under UK law, even if you took it yourself. That sounds frightening, but the system is not designed to punish young people who have been pressured, tricked, or who are caught up in something with another young person. UK policing uses something called Outcome 21 to record incidents like this without giving the young person a criminal record, when that is the right call.

More importantly, if an image of you has been shared without your permission, you have real options. The Internet Watch Foundation runs a service called Report Remove (with Childline) that can get nude or sexual images of you taken off the internet, free, without you needing to say who you are publicly. Adults who pressure you into sending images, or who share them, are the ones breaking the law, not you.

What this looks like in real life

Real examples

You sent a photo to a partner who said it was just for them, and now it is being passed around.
Someone is threatening to share an image unless you send more or pay them. This is sextortion and it is a crime.
A photo of you from a private chat has ended up on a group or social platform.
Someone created a fake or edited image of you and is sharing it as if it is real.

What you can do

Step 1

Use Report Remove from IWF and Childline to get the image taken down. It works for under 18s and you do not have to tell them who you are publicly.

Step 2

Screenshot the threats or shares before blocking, then block the person and stop replying.

Step 3

Tell one trusted adult, even if it feels impossible. The next steps are much easier with someone alongside you.

Step 4

Report to CEOP if an adult is involved, if you are being threatened, or if you are being asked for money.

Step 5

If you are in immediate danger or fear, call 999.

What not to do

Do not send more images, money, or anything else to make a threat go away. Sextortion almost always continues if you pay.
Do not delete the messages or images before you have screenshots. Police and platforms may need them as evidence.
Do not blame yourself for sending it in the first place. Sharing an image without permission is the wrong, not trusting someone you cared about.

Who you can talk to

People who can help

A parent, carer, or relative who can be calm with you.
A teacher, designated safeguarding lead (DSL), or school nurse.
Childline on 0800 1111 (free, confidential, 24/7).
CEOP for reports involving adults, threats, or money.
The IWF Report Remove service if you just want the image gone.

If something goes wrong

You are not in this on your own and you are not the one in trouble. Report Remove can help take the image off the internet, and Childline can support you through it without telling anyone you do not want to involve. If an adult is behind it, CEOP and the police treat this as a crime against you, not by you. If you feel unsafe or in danger right now, call 999.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trusted UK sources

Report Remove (nude image takedown for under 18s) (IWF / Childline)
Report to CEOP (CEOP / NCA)
Outcome 21 guidance (College of Policing)

Last reviewed: 2026-05-20Next review: 2026-08-20Reviewed against: UK statutory guidance

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.