The Coroner has called a suicide linked to a sextortion scam a senseless loss, amid a growing number of image-based abuse cases over the past few years.
This story discusses suicide
Netsafe said there has been a 200% increase in sextortion and image-based abuse cases over the past three years.
It includes incidents such as online blackmail where people are persuaded to send explicit images or video of themselves before being threatened that they will be shared with others unless the victim pays money, sends more images or even moves funds for the offender.
Deep fake images or videos are also used to manipulate a person, using tools like artificial intelligence to create fake explicit content.
Netsafe said it received up to 80 reports of online sexual harm a week. Chief executive Brent Carey said AI was driving up the numbers.
"People are coming to us in a state of distress because their nudes have been shared, someone's trying to blackmail them and we are able to try and help them with the content take down."
Summer Murphy is one of four victims who had hundreds of deep fake images created and posted online in 2024.
"I felt very insecure and paranoid that everyone kind of had seen these photos," she said.
In 2024 a 41-year-old Auckland man took his own life after sending images to an AI generated woman which criminals used to blackmail him.
It is the second suicide involving a sextortion attempt before the Coroners Court this year.
Coroner Janet Anderson said the harm inflicted by sextortion goes beyond extreme emotional distress and financial loss.
She stressed the importance of victims being aware of where to seek support.
"It is vital for the community to be made aware that these resources exist, and that help is available."
Netsafe and Ignite Aotearoa have launched a free pilot service for anyone that reports online sexual abuse to be able to access three funded support sessions.
"From counselling, coaching, through to normal practitioners on there who have all had dedicated training from Netsafe around recognising and managing the impact," said Ignite director Sarina Finucane.
Murphy said it was a start to help those who do not qualify for funded support, but far more needed to be done for victims.
"I was told that because the sexual abuse that I had dealt with was not physical I didn't meet the eligibility criteria for any sexual abuse help."
Her offender was sentenced in May, the first prosecution of its kind under the Harmful Digital Communications Act.
The legislation has been labelled outdated for missing key issues like AI and it being difficult for victims to prove intent to cause harm.
It prompted ACT MP Laura McClure to introduce a Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill. It would criminalise the creation, sharing and selling of sexually explicit images without consent.
Victims would not need to prove intent to cause harm.
The bill gained cross party support when it passed its first reading in May and is now at select committee.
What to do if you’re a victim of sextortion or deep fake image abuse
- Report the behaviour to Netsafe (text Netsafe to 4282 or email help@netsafe.org.nz)
- Do not send any more images or videos, even if you’re being threatened
- Take screenshots of your online chat immediately
- Block the profile of the person threatening you
- Report the content to the platform you’re using (e.g Facebook or Snapchat) and ask that the content be removed
- Report the crime to police by calling 105
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