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 Ireland

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, sections 2 and 3. Section 2 (intent to cause harm): up to 7 years on indictment. Section 3 (without intent to harm): up to 12 months on summary conviction.

Ireland's Coco's Law (named for Nicole Fox Fenlon) created two tiered offences: a serious indictable offence where intent to cause harm is shown, and a summary offence where it is not. Coimisiún na Meán enforces platform compliance under the broader online safety regime.

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 Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 (Coco's Law) criminal complaint

    Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. Hotline.ie can assist.

  3. 3

    Submit an erasure request under GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) plus Data Protection Act 2018

    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. DPC 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 Ireland?

Yes. Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, sections 2 and 3 criminalises this conduct. Section 2 (intent to cause harm): up to 7 years on indictment. Section 3 (without intent to harm): up to 12 months on summary conviction.

What evidence should a Ireland 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 Data Protection Act 2018 gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. DPC enforces non compliance.

What support is available in Ireland for leaked by ex?

Hotline.ie provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://www.hotline.ie.

Can a Ireland 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 Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 (Coco's Law) and GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) plus Data Protection Act 2018.

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