Sri Lanka’s cyber security authorities have sought urgent action from Meta to remove social media groups allegedly used to solicit, trade and distribute intimate photographs of women without their consent.
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) said it had received a significant number of complaints concerning leaked personal photographs, including explicit and semi-explicit images.
The complaints emerged amid growing public outrage over Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp groups allegedly dedicated to requesting, sharing and selling private images of women.
Screenshots circulating on social media appear to show users requesting explicit photographs of family members, partners and female colleagues. Some users have allegedly offered money for such images, while others have encouraged members to share private photographs without the consent of those depicted.
SLCERT Chief Information Officer Nirosh Ananda said links to the groups were being circulated widely across several social media platforms.
“We have received a large number of complaints regarding the leaking of personal photographs and information. These groups have been shared extensively across Facebook and a number of other social media platforms, and the issue is being heavily discussed,” he said.
Ananda said SLCERT had collected numerous links and reports submitted by members of the public and referred them directly to Meta for urgent action.
“We have already escalated these matters to Meta for the immediate removal of the content and to assist in identifying the people behind these activities,” he said.
Cybersecurity experts warn that soliciting or distributing intimate images without consent may constitute image-based sexual abuse, online harassment, blackmail, extortion and serious privacy violations.
The practice, internationally identified as Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse, disproportionately affects women and girls and can cause severe emotional distress, reputational harm and intimidation.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, prohibits users from sharing or threatening to share intimate images without consent. Violations may result in the removal of content, suspension of accounts and further enforcement action.
SLCERT urged members of the public who encounter such groups, links or content to report them immediately via [email protected], its cyber incident reporting channels or www.cert.gov.lk.
Ananda assured complainants that their identities and personal information would remain confidential.
“We will ensure the privacy of every individual who makes a complaint. We guarantee that their confidentiality will be safeguarded,” he said.
“We urge people to report any links or groups that are being shared so that we can prevent the further spread of this unwanted content.”
