What If Someone Leaks Your Private Photos
Private photo leaks are more common than most people realize. Erasa uses photo reverse search to help you discover where your images appear online and supports you with removal and protection services.
What Is Private Photos Leak?
A private photo leak happens when personal or intimate images are shared, reposted, or distributed online without your consent or against your expectations of privacy. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), nonconsensual distribution of intimate images (sometimes referred to as image-based abuse or, in narrower contexts, “revenge porn”) occurs when someone shares an intimate photo or video of you without your permission. These images may be originally created consensually or nonconsensually, and can include anything from personal selfies to more sensitive content that you never intended to be public.
How to Know If Your Private Photos Are Already Online
Use Google Image Search
Google Image Search lets you upload a photo or paste an image URL to find visually similar images across publicly indexed websites. It works best for exact or near-exact matches, but it is not based on face recognition technology and cannot reliably find all images that contain your facial features.
Use Erasa’s Photo Reverse Search
Erasa offers a Photo Reverse Search powered by a Face Recognition Search Engine, designed to detect where your images—especially those containing faces—may appear online.
Instead of relying only on visual similarity, a face recognition search engine focuses on facial features, helping surface potential matches even when images are resized, edited, or reposted in different contexts.
How it works
Upload a Photo
Upload the image you want to check.
Step 1 - Upload a Photo
Run a Face Recognition Search
Scan public online sources using Erasa’s Face Recognition Search Engine.
Step 2 - Run a Face Recognition Search
Review Matches
See where similar images appear online.
Step 3 - Review Matches
Remove Unauthorized Photos
Remove photos that appear online without your authorization.
Step 4 - Remove Unauthorized Photos
Private Photo Leaks Happen More Often Than You Think
In other words, more than one in five people worldwide have been affected by some form of unauthorized image misuse. These incidents often go unreported and are not limited to extreme or high-profile cases, which is why the real scope of private photo leaks is frequently underestimated.
Common Scenarios Where Private Photos Are Leaked
Revenge Porn
Revenge porn refers to the nonconsensual sharing of intimate photos, often by a former partner after a breakup or conflict. Images that were originally shared privately are published without permission to cause harm, embarrassment, or control. This is widely recognized as a form of image-based abuse.
Sextortion
Sextortion occurs when someone threatens to release private photos unless the victim meets certain demands, such as paying money or sending more images. The photos may be obtained through hacking, deception, or prior private conversations.
Celebrity Photo Leaks
Celebrity photo leaks refer to cases where private images of public figures are exposed and circulated online, often becoming widely searched and discussed. High-profile examples include Billie Eilish leaked photos and Jennifer Lawrence leaked photos, which drew global attention to how private celebrity images can spread rapidly once shared without consent.
Hacking or Data Breaches
Hacking or data breaches involve unauthorized access to accounts, devices, or platforms where private photos are stored. Notable cases such as the Ashley Madison data breach and other major platform breaches show how private images can be exposed online—even when individuals never shared them publicly.
What to Do If Your Private Photos Are Leaked
1. Stay Calm — Never Pay
Discovering leaked photos can be overwhelming, but it's important to stay calm. Never pay blackmailers or extortionists, even if they threaten to share or spread your images further. Paying does not guarantee removal and often leads to additional demands.
2. Request Removal of Leaked Photos
The next step is to request removal of photos shared without your authorization. Many websites and platforms offer reporting processes for nonconsensual or privacy-violating content.
If you're unsure where your photos appear—or if manual removal feels time-consuming—consider Erasa's personal photo protection service, which helps identify exposure and supports the removal process.
3. Seek Legal Support
If the situation escalates, consider seeking legal support from privacy or digital rights attorneys:
- Local Law Enforcement, Especially In Cases Involving Extortion, Threats, Hacking, Or Blackmail.
- Consumer Protection Agencies, Such As The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Which Provides Guidance On Image-Based Abuse And Online Exploitation.
- Victim Support Organizations, Including Groups Like Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI), Which Offer Resources And Assistance For Victims Of
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to see where your photo appears online?
Run a reverse photo search and get a clear, reliable report — every match, link, and online appearance in one place.