Removing Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) — Ireland
Sourced from Irish Acts of the Oireachtas, statutory instruments, and official guidance. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
NCII in Ireland is criminal under Coco's Law (Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020). Section 2 criminalises distributing, publishing, or threatening to distribute intimate images of another person without consent, with intent to cause harm or being reckless as to whether harm is caused — up to 7 years' imprisonment on indictment. Section 3 criminalises the lesser offence (without intent to cause harm) — up to 12 months' summary conviction. Investigation runs through An Garda Síochána (typically GNCCB or the local Garda station).
Technical takedown: StopNCII.org (18+) and NCMEC takeitdown (under-18). Hotline.ie — operated by ISPAI — accepts reports of illegal online content for removal from Irish-hosted services. Coimisiún na Meán (the Online Safety Commission) under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 oversees online safety obligations of designated platforms.
When does it apply?
- Intimate images / videos of you shared online without consent.
- Threats to share intimate imagery — sextortion.
- Deepfake sexual content depicting you — Coco's Law Section 2 covers digitally altered images.
- Subject under 18 — use NCMEC takeitdown.
- Content on a platform that participates in the StopNCII hash list.
Removing NCII Through Gardaí, StopNCII, NCMEC
- If 18+, hash via StopNCII.org. File never uploads.
- If under 18, use takeitdown.ncmec.org.
- Report to An Garda Síochána under Coco's Law Section 2. Local station — keep the Pulse reference.
- For Irish-hosted illegal content, report to Hotline.ie.
- Preserve evidence. Screenshots with URL + timestamps.
- Don't pay extortionists.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't pay the extortionist.
- Don't delete the original from the platform before reporting.
- Don't assume StopNCII covers under-18 content.
- Don't pay 'image-removal services' upfront.
About Data Privacy & Digital Rights in Ireland
Ireland's data-protection framework is the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as supplemented by the Data Protection Act 2018. The regulator is the Data Protection Commission (DPC) at dataprotection.ie — one of the most active GDPR regulators in the EU due to the concentration of US tech multinationals headquartered in Dublin.
For non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), Ireland enacted the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 ("Coco's Law") in February 2021. Section 2 criminalises distribution / publication / threats to distribute intimate images without consent — up to 7 years' imprisonment. Section 3 (lesser offence — without intent to cause harm) carries up to 12 months' summary conviction. Investigation runs through An Garda Síochána, typically the GNCCB or local Garda. Victims should also use StopNCII.org (18+) or takeitdown.ncmec.org (under-18s) — both free.
Common Questions
What is Coco's Law?
The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 (commenced February 2021), known as Coco's Law after Nicole Fox (Coco), who took her own life after sustained online abuse. Section 2 criminalises distribution / publication / threats to distribute intimate images without consent and with intent to cause harm (or recklessness) — up to 7 years on indictment. Section 3 lesser offence (without intent) — up to 12 months summary.
Does Coco's Law cover deepfake content?
Yes — Section 2 explicitly covers altered images. The Act's definition of intimate image includes digitally manipulated images depicting the person, so deepfake sexual content distributed without consent and with intent to cause harm falls within Section 2.
What is Hotline.ie?
Hotline.ie is operated by ISPAI (Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland) and accepts public reports of illegal online content, including child sexual abuse material and NCII. Hotline.ie works with Irish-hosted services to remove content. It is not a substitute for An Garda Síochána criminal investigation under Coco's Law.
What does Coimisiún na Meán do?
Coimisiún na Meán — Ireland's Media Commission established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 — supervises online safety obligations of designated platforms (including the largest US tech multinationals headquartered in Ireland for EU operations). It does not handle individual victim complaints directly but regulates platform-level safety standards.
What is the removing non-consensual intimate imagery (ncii) right in Ireland?
NCII in Ireland is criminal under Coco's Law (Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020). Section 2 criminalises distributing, publishing, or threatening to distribute intimate images of another person without consent, with intent to cause harm or being reckless as to whether harm is caused — up to 7 years' imprisonment on indictment. Section 3 criminalises the lesser offence (without intent to cause harm) — up to 12 months' summary conviction. Investigation runs through An Garda Síochána (typically GNCCB or the local Garda station).Technical takedown: StopNCII.org (18+)...
When does it apply — removing non-consensual intimate imagery (ncii)?
Intimate images / videos of you shared online without consent.Threats to share intimate imagery — sextortion.Deepfake sexual content depicting you — Coco's Law Section 2 covers digitally altered images.Subject under 18 — use NCMEC takeitdown.Content on a platform that participates in the StopNCII hash list.
How do I remove non-consensual intimate imagery in Ireland?
If 18+, hash via StopNCII.org. File never uploads.If under 18, use takeitdown.ncmec.org.Report to An Garda Síochána under Coco's Law Section 2. Local station — keep the Pulse reference.For Irish-hosted illegal content, report to Hotline.ie.Preserve evidence. Screenshots with URL + timestamps.Don't pay extortionists.
What should you NOT do — removing non-consensual intimate imagery (ncii)?
Don't pay the extortionist.Don't delete the original from the platform before reporting.Don't assume StopNCII covers under-18 content.Don't pay 'image-removal services' upfront.