A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

C

Cyberflashing: the act of sending unwanted sexual images, videos, or audios to another person digitally, often using Bluetooth, AirDop, or other file-sharing services.

Cyberstalking or online stalking: the use of digital technologies to repeatedly track, watch, intrude upon, or harass someone, causing discomfort, fear, or distress.

D

Deepfake pornography: sexual or intimate images, videos, or audios that were generated (algorithmically synthesized) or manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) to make it appear that someone did or said something that they did not.
While this term is popular, it is problematic. By framing this form of violence as “pornography,” we implicitly legitimize the consumption of abuse material as a form of erotic entertainment. Better terms to describe AI-generated sexual content include “deepfake sexual abuse material,” “deepfake nudes,” or “AI-generated image-based sexual abuse (AI-IBSA) material.”

Downblousing: the act of taking a nonconsensual photo or video underneath someone’s shirt, especially of breasts. This is a form of IBSA.

Doxxing: the act of non-consensually sharing someone else’s personal or identifying information online, especially with the intent to harass, humiliate, or distress.

I

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA): nonconsensual creating, taking, or sharing of sexual or intimate images or videos, including threatening these actions.

Intimate content: images, videos, audio, writing, or other artifacts that depict someone nude, partially nude, engaging in a sexual act or position, using the toilet, or that otherwise reveal something ordinarily private.
What is considered “intimate” can vary based on cultural context. It is important to consider if someone’s privacy or bodily autonomy has been violated by the image. Consider a photo showing someone’s hair down. This may be ordinary and inoffensive to one person, but sensitive and violating for another, for instance if they typically wear a religious head covering.

Intimate image abuse: nonconsensual creating, taking, or sharing of sexual or intimate images or videos, including threatening these actions.

L

Love scam or online romance scam: fraud where perpetrators fabricate an online romantic relationship to emotionally manipulate and financially exploit someone.

M

Multiple perpetrator sexual assault (MPSA): any act of sexual assault in which there are two or more individuals committing the assault.
This is sometimes also referred to as “gang rape,” “group rape,” or a number of other colloquial, often degrading terms. Compared to these terms, MPSA is a more general and allows us to consider more numerous forms of sexual violence than rape alone as well as various forms of relation between the perpetrators.

N

Non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse: nonconsensual creating, taking, or sharing of sexual or intimate images or videos, including threatening these actions.

O

Online sexual grooming: the act of building an online relationship with a minor or vulnerable adult through manipulation with the intent of sexual abuse or exploitation. This is often shortened to “grooming.”

R

Revenge pornography: sexual or intimate media distributed non-consensually, typically by a former partner with the intention of humiliating or harming the depicted person.
While this term is popular, it is problematic. By framing this form of violence as “revenge,” we imply that there was some initial wrongdoing by the victim that provoked this action and privilege the perpetrators’ perspective. This is victim blaming and is not survivor-centric. By framing this form of violence as “pornography,” we implicitly legitimize the consumption of abuse material as a form of erotic entertainment. Better terms to describe non-consensually distributed media include “image-based sexual abuse (IBSA)”/”IBSA material,” “intimate image abuse”/”intimate image abuse materials,” and “non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse”/”NCII sharing.”

S

Sexual coercion: the use pressure, manipulation, or other non-physical force to persuade someone into unwanted sexual activity.

Sexual harassment: unwanted sexual behavior or attention, including sensitive language, gestures, or touching, that makes someone feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated.

Sextortion or sexual extortion: a form of blackmail where the perpetrator threatens to sexual or intimate images or videos to coerce someone into complying with certain financial or behavioral demands.

Spycam pornography or hidden camera pornography: a form of voyeurism and IBSA where concealed, miniature cameras are used to non-consensually capture intimate acts.

T

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV): any act of sexual violence enabled or facilitated by digital technologies whether occurring online or face-to-face.

U

Upskirting: the act of taking a nonconsensual photo or video underneath someone’s clothing, typically of their genital area. It is a form of IBSA.

V

Voyeurism: the intentional and clandestine observation, including by recording, of others engaging in private, especially intimate or sexual, acts.
Click here to see how voyeurism is defined by Singapore law under Penal Code Section 377BB.
Some kink communities use the terms “voyeurism” and “exhibitionism” to refer to consensual practices. In our discussion of online sexual harms, when we use the term “voyeurism” we emphasize that any observation or recording occurring without the permission of the observed party is a form of sexual harm.