If it is safe, record what happened and preserve the online details that identify where it appeared, who was involved, and when you saw it. You can report content to the platform, report a suspected crime to an appropriate authority, seek support, or choose not to report. You do not need a complete evidence record to ask for help.
What counts as online or tech-enabled sexual abuse?
Technology can be used to carry out or facilitate sexual abuse and exploitation. Examples include sextortion, cyberstalking, deepfakes, and non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII). RAINN describes these and other forms of technology-facilitated abuse in its overview of tech-enabled sexual abuse.
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This guide focuses on keeping a safe record of online material and understanding U.S.-oriented reporting options. Platform rules, laws, and procedures differ by location and can change.
How to preserve online evidence safely
Preserving evidence is optional. Do not put yourself at risk or delay getting support to collect it. If it is safe, RAINN advises: “If you can do so safely, save screenshots, links, messages, and other details before the content disappears.”
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1. Write down what happened
In plain language, note what was posted, created, sent, or threatened; where and when you found it; who appears to be involved; and whether there was coercion, a threat, or a demand for money. Note if the material appears on more than one platform or if a minor may be involved.
2. Keep identifying details and context
Where safe, save screenshots along with the full URL, account name or username, date and time, related messages, threats or payment demands, and details of any earlier platform reports. Include enough surrounding context to show where the material appeared and which account was involved. Store the record somewhere you can access safely.
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A screenshot by itself does not guarantee that what happened will be proved or that a particular legal proceeding will accept it. If documenting might alert the person responsible, increase danger, or cause serious distress, stop and consider asking a trusted person or advocate to help.
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Reporting content to a platform and reporting a possible crime are different actions. You can choose one, more than one, or neither; the right route depends on what happened and where you are.
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| Route | What it is for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Platform report | Flag content, request action such as removal, and keep a platform report record. | Use the platform where the material appears and save the report details if safe. Interfaces and response processes vary. RAINN provides guidance on reporting tech-enabled sexual abuse and intimate images. |
| NCMEC CyberTipline | Report suspected online child sexual exploitation, including suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM). | Follow RAINN’s child-specific guidance and notify the platform through its reporting process. Do not download, forward, or reproduce suspected CSAM. |
| Local law enforcement or the FBI | Report a potential crime. | The appropriate agency and process depend on your location and circumstances. The U.S. Department of Justice lists these as reporting options; it does not make platform reporting a substitute for a crime report. See its sexual assault guidance. |
| FTC complaint | Raise a complaint about covered NCII that remains online after a platform report. | RAINN says a person can file an FTC complaint if NCII has not been removed 48 hours after the report. It describes the TAKE IT DOWN Act as requiring platforms to remove NCII, including CSAM, within 48 hours of a verified request. This timeline concerns covered NCII removal requests; it is not a general deadline for every platform complaint or sexual-assault report. Check RAINN’s reporting guidance for details. |
| Survivor support | Talk through what happened and consider options, whether or not you report. | RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers phone, chat, and text support 24/7/365. Visit its tech-enabled abuse resource for current contact options. |
What to do if suspected CSAM is involved
Use the child-specific route rather than trying to preserve the material yourself. RAINN advises keeping the URL, related messages, and usernames, reporting suspected child sexual exploitation to NCMEC’s CyberTipline, and notifying the platform. Include screenshots of usernames, URLs, or timestamps only if legally allowed to do so. Do not download or circulate the material. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or local authorities.
Protect your privacy when a device may be requested
A phone may contain relevant evidence as well as sensitive information unrelated to the incident, and it may be important for personal safety. The U.S. Department of Justice’s May 2024 prosecutor framework describes different approaches used in some cases, including screenshots as a basis for seeking a warrant for a perpetrator’s phone and searches conducted with limited consent and specified parameters. The framework says there is no one definitive solution; it does not establish a universal process or mean that a survivor must hand over a device or agree to a full extraction. Read the DOJ framework.
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If someone asks to access your phone, you can ask what information is being requested, what the scope of access would be, whether the device can be returned promptly, and how copied material will be protected. These are practical questions, not a statement of universal legal rights. For advice about your jurisdiction or a specific request, contact a local advocate, attorney, or relevant authority.
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Get support without waiting to decide about reporting
You can contact a sexual-assault advocate even if you have not saved anything, reported to a platform, or contacted law enforcement. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is available by phone, chat, or text, 24/7/365; use the linked RAINN resource above for current contact options. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact emergency services where you are.
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- Drive Imaging and Cloning: Create exact, bit-by-bit replicas of storage devices for forensic analysis while preserving the original media.
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Procedures for confidential or anonymous reporting vary by location and situation. The cited guidance does not establish a universal way to preserve provider-held records or obtain platform data for a criminal investigation, so seek local guidance if that is a concern.
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