Sexual blackmail or "sextortion"
Since the start of 2026, 3,018 cases of sextortion have been reported to the platforms.
Sexual extortion, formerly known as “sextortion”, is a form of blackmail that can affect both minors and adults.
A person threatens to publish intimate photos, videos or other content of a victim if the victim refuses to comply with their demands.
The subject of the blackmail may involve money, new sexually explicit material, or the performance of particularly humiliating sexual acts. Moreover, the images used to carry out this blackmail are not necessarily content that the victim sent themselves: they may have been stolen during a cyberattack, recorded without their knowledge, misappropriated, or even generated by artificial intelligence from a single photograph.
What is sexual extortion?
Sexual extortion relies on a mechanism of pressure : the perpetrator possesses, or claims to possess, intimate material relating to the victim and threatens to share it with the victim’s family and friends, on social media or online.
The aim, then, is to force the victim to give in to their demands.
There are several forms of sexual extortion, and these can sometimes occur simultaneously or evolve over the course of a single incident.
Sexual extortion for financial gain
In this case, the perpetrator demands money in exchange for a promise not to disseminate the intimate material in their possession.
This form of behaviour particularly affects teenagers, and the first contact often takes place on an online gaming platform. Among minors, boys aged between 14 and 17 are particularly affected.
Sexual extortion for sexual purposes
The author is not asking for money; he is demanding:
- new intimate photos or videos
- a video call of a sexual nature
- engaging in remote sexual acts on themselves or on others (including younger children in their circle)
Underage girls are more likely to be targeted in situations of this kind.
Sexual extortion for the purpose of humiliation
In such cases, the perpetrator seeks to dominate, humiliate or belittle the victim, in particular by forcing them to produce sexual – and sometimes violent – content, before disseminating it in order to damage their online reputation.
Among minors, this form of sextortion affects overwhelmingly – indeed, almost exclusively – girls.
How does a situation of sexual extortion begin?
There is no single scenario, but many situations follow a similar pattern.
It all starts with the perpetrator making contact via a social media site, a video game platform, a chat forum or an encrypted mobile app. The perpetrator may also be someone the victim already knows, such as a former partner who already possesses intimate material.
When dealing with a stranger, the perpetrator seeks to gradually build a relationship of trust with the victim. He manipulates her until a particular bond has been established, which he then fosters by gradually isolating the victim from those around her: this is known as grooming. One of the most common tactics is to pose as a minor of roughly the same age as the victim.
The exchanges quickly become more intimate, eventually turning sexual. The perpetrator then asks for a photo, an intimate video or a video call of a sexual nature, which they will record without the victim’s knowledge. Once they have obtained the content, the blackmail begins.
Sexual extortion occurs in a great many digital spaces:
- social media
- private courier services
- dating apps
- live video chat apps
- the forums
- online video game platforms
After an initial exchange on a social media platform, the perpetrator often tries to move the conversation to a private messaging service, so as to be less easily detected.
What are the warning signs?
Certain behaviours should raise concerns, in particular:
- being contacted by a stranger or a profile containing very little information
- a quick suggestion to continue the conversation via private messaging
an urgent request for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency - a request for photos, videos or new content of a sexual nature
- threats to make something public
- persistent and repeated messages involving pressure, guilt-tripping or a ban on discussing the matter with loved ones.
What should you do if you are the victim of sexual extortion?
In such a situation, it is essential not to cope on your own and to seek help as soon as possible.
Sending money or providing new content does not guarantee that the perpetrator will stop making threats.
It is recommended that you:
- stop replying to the author
- Do not send any money or new content
- to retain evidence, including screenshots of the exchanges and information relating to the perpetrator’s account
- report the account and the conversation on the relevant platform
- Contact 3018 as soon as possible by phone or via the chat function on the 3018 app
- file a complaint and get help with the process via the masécurité.interieur.gouv.fr platform
- contact your bank immediately if a payment has already been made
Even when a victim has sent an intimate photo or video themselves, they are never to blame for the blackmail they are subjected to.
What should you do if your child is the victim of sexual blackmail?
For parents and professionals, the first step is to listen to the victim without downplaying or judging the situation.
It is important to make it clear to her that she is not to blame, to assess the extent of her distress, and to avoid negotiating directly with the person carrying out the blackmail.
The 3018 can then assist the victim and their family and friends with the necessary procedures.
How can you protect yourself from sexual extortion?
There are certain measures that can help reduce the risks:
- set your accounts to private mode
- to restrict the personal information accessible online
- enable two-factor authentication
- use a different password for each account
- block persistent accounts
- talk to a trusted adult if an online conversation makes you feel uncomfortable
It is also important to bear in mind that…’With artificial intelligence, a genuinely intimate photo is no longer needed to carry out blackmail : doctored sexual content (also known as Deepnudes) can now be generated or created from ordinary images.
What does the law say?
Depending on the circumstances, several offences under the Criminal Code may be established, including:
- sexual extortion
- corruption of a minor
- the solicitation of sexually explicit images of a minor
- the unauthorised sharing of intimate content
- the recording or broadcasting of sexual images depicting a child
- the dissemination of sexual content depicting a person, whether generated by artificial intelligence or created using editing techniques
Are you a victim of sexual extortion? Call 3018
In the event of sexual blackmail, the first thing to do is call 3018.
The 3018 helpline is available 7 days a week, from 9 am to 11 pm, by telephone or via the 3018 app’s chat service. The service is free, anonymous and confidential.
As a trusted flagger designated by Arcom, the 3018 helpline can assist victims with their procedures, refer them to the relevant services and submit reports to platforms to request the swift removal of harmful accounts or content.
To go further
News
