Why this happens

Intimate images shared inside a relationship survive long after the relationship ends. The most common trigger is a contested breakup, a new partner, or financial dispute.

Most leaks are first posted to platforms the perpetrator believes are anonymous. They rarely are. Account metadata, IP logs, and payment records routinely identify the source.

Legal framework in Germany

Strafgesetzbuch § 201a (Verletzung des höchstpersönlichen Lebensbereichs durch Bildaufnahmen). Up to 2 years imprisonment or fine. Up to 5 years where the image is made accessible to a third party.

Germany criminalises unauthorised intimate image capture and distribution under StGB § 201a, with a higher penalty tier where the image is made accessible to others. The 2021 amendment extended coverage to images that gravely damage the depicted person's reputation. GDPR erasure is available against any controller processing the imagery.

Evidence to preserve

Do not: Do not contact the ex partner before evidence is preserved and notices are filed. Confrontation gives them time to delete content and craft a denial.

Five step removal process

  1. 1

    Preserve all evidence first

    Full page screenshot of every URL where the content appears, with the URL bar visible. The username or account handle that posted the content.

  2. 2

    File the § 201a StGB criminal complaint

    Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. Hilfetelefon Gewalt gegen Frauen can assist.

  3. 3

    Submit an erasure request under GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) plus Bundesdatenschutzgesetz

    Each major platform has a designated data protection contact. The request must cite the legal basis and identify the URLs. The platform has 30 days to respond. BfDI accepts complaints for non compliance.

  4. 4

    Run a biometric scan to find every additional copy

    Content posted to one platform is rarely confined to one platform. ScanErase identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including mirror copies and AI generated variants.

  5. 5

    File TAKE IT DOWN Act notices for covered platforms

    Use your scan report to file the federal 48 hour notice yourself, in parallel with your domestic rights. The two regimes are cumulative, not exclusive.

Statutory citations to include in your complaint

Frequently asked questions

Is leaked by ex a crime in Germany?

Yes. Strafgesetzbuch § 201a (Verletzung des höchstpersönlichen Lebensbereichs durch Bildaufnahmen) criminalises this conduct. Up to 2 years imprisonment or fine. Up to 5 years where the image is made accessible to a third party.

What evidence should a Germany victim of leaked by ex preserve?

Full page screenshot of every URL where the content appears, with the URL bar visible. The username or account handle that posted the content. Any direct messages, texts, or emails from the ex partner referencing the content. The original image metadata if you still have the source file, which can prove provenance.

Does GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) apply to this scenario?

Yes. GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) plus Bundesdatenschutzgesetz gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. BfDI enforces non compliance.

What support is available in Germany for leaked by ex?

Hilfetelefon Gewalt gegen Frauen provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://www.hilfetelefon.de.

Can a Germany victim also file a US TAKE IT DOWN Act notice?

Yes when the hosting platform is subject to US jurisdiction. The 48 hour federal removal obligation runs in parallel with rights under § 201a StGB and GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) plus Bundesdatenschutzgesetz.

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