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 Netherlands

Wetboek van Strafrecht artikel 139h (misbruik seksueel beeldmateriaal). Up to 2 years imprisonment or fine of the fourth category.

The Netherlands enacted dedicated NCII criminalisation in 2020 covering possession, acquisition, and distribution of intimate imagery without consent. Helpwanted.nl is the national support service for online sexual abuse and operates a removal request workflow with major platforms.

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 Article 139h Wetboek van Strafrecht criminal complaint

    Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. Helpwanted.nl can assist.

  3. 3

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

    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. AP 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 Netherlands?

Yes. Wetboek van Strafrecht artikel 139h (misbruik seksueel beeldmateriaal) criminalises this conduct. Up to 2 years imprisonment or fine of the fourth category.

What evidence should a Netherlands 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 Uitvoeringswet AVG gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. AP enforces non compliance.

What support is available in Netherlands for leaked by ex?

Helpwanted.nl provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://www.helpwanted.nl.

Can a Netherlands 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 Article 139h Wetboek van Strafrecht and GDPR Article 17 (right to erasure) plus Uitvoeringswet AVG.

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