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 Japan

Act on Prevention of Damage Caused by Provision of Private Sexual Image Records (Act No. 126 of 2014). Up to 3 years imprisonment or fine up to ¥500,000 for unauthorised provision. Up to 1 year for facilitating provision.

Japan enacted the Revenge Porn Prevention Act in 2014 in response to the Mitsuhashi Yuka case. The Act creates a specific criminal offence and obliges providers to expedite removal upon victim notification. The PPC enforces APPI rights against domestic and foreign processors.

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 Revenge Porn Prevention Act criminal complaint

    Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. Safer Internet Association hotline can assist.

  3. 3

    Submit an erasure request under Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use

    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. PPC 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 Japan?

Yes. Act on Prevention of Damage Caused by Provision of Private Sexual Image Records (Act No. 126 of 2014) criminalises this conduct. Up to 3 years imprisonment or fine up to ¥500,000 for unauthorised provision. Up to 1 year for facilitating provision.

What evidence should a Japan 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 Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use apply to this scenario?

Yes. Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. PPC enforces non compliance.

What support is available in Japan for leaked by ex?

Safer Internet Association hotline provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://www.safe-line.jp.

Can a Japan 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 Revenge Porn Prevention Act and Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use.

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