Date

Jan. 04. 2023

What is sexual extortion?

Date

Jan. 04. 2023
What is sexual extortion?

Sexual extortion is a kind of blackmail. The perpetrator demands sexual favours, money, or other benefits under the threat of sharing intimate or sexually explicit material.

What to do if you are the victim of sexual extortion

  • Don’t panic. Remember that it is not your fault, and you are not alone.
  • Tell someone you trust so that they can support you in getting help.
  • Stop communicating with the perpetrator.
  • Don’t give in to their threats by sending money or more intimate content.
  • Keep the evidence of their blackmail and threats on your device.

Contact local law enforcement and/or your local helpline.

How do perpetrators of sexual extortion get hold of explicit material?

There are several ways in which perpetrators might obtain explicit material. A few examples include:

  • With the individual's consent
  • By posing as someone else
  • By secretly recording the individual in person or via a live stream
  • By hacking into their electronic devices
  • They might only be pretending to have the material
  • Regardless of how (or whether) the perpetrator obtains the material, the fear of it being shared among the victim’s network can cause extreme feelings of shame, anxiety, and helplessness. If this happens to you, it is important to remember that it is not your fault, you are not alone, and help is available.

Learn more about sexual extortion below.

Who can be a victim of sexual extortion?

Men, women, adults, and minors can all be victims of sexual extortion. One increasingly common form occurs among young people - when consensual sexting turns into abusive extortion or coercion. Read more about how sexual extortion affects young people in the study below conducted by Thorn.

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