Indecent images of young people

Zoom is a video conferencing app. Zoom Bombing is a cyber attack on your video call where an individual or a group of people enter it without the permission of the host. These individuals then display offensive or explicit images in order to cause distress to the recipients.

During the Coronavirus emergency period, video conferencing is helping many people to work remotely and allowing us to stay in touch with our families and friends. Unfortunately as worldwide use of video conferencing increases, so has the reporting of cyber attacks .

The links in Related Information provide details of how to secure your Zoom meeting and prevent unwanted joining.

If you have experienced zoom bombing, this can reported to Zoom and depending on the nature of the content, your Local Police Force.

Possession of indecent images of children is an offence, as is the manufacture and distribution of them. You should not forward the images to anyone, even the Police, it is a very serious matter.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is the UK Internet Hotline for anyone to report online child sexual abuse imagery anonymously.

IWF works internationally to make the internet safer. They help victims of child sexual abuse worldwide by identifying and removing online images and videos of their abuse.

Please see Related Information for a link to their website.

Pop-up messages are caused by scripts buried in web pages or are sent via the "Messenger" service. Preventative steps that you can take include:

Disabling the messenger service on your local workstation,

the use of anti-virus/firewall software that prevents pop-ups.

Below is some basic advice for preventing pop-ups.

If using Windows XP (Service Pack 2):

1. Open Internet Explorer,
2. Click Tools,
3. Click Internet Options,
4. Select the privacy tab then tick the box saying: "Block pop-ups".

Below is some basic advice for what action to take when a pop-up is on your screen:

1. Disconnect from the Internet,
2. Bring up task manager,
3. Right-click the taskbar itself (bar with the start button on it),
4. Select Task Manager from the context menu.
5. Select the Applications tab,
6. Right-click the pop-up window and all Internet Explorer applications (must be done one by one)
7. Select End Task from the context menu.

If this does not remove the pop-up window then reboot your workstation.

If you have any serious concerns over indecent images of children then contact Police Scotland by dialling 101. Your internet ISP (service provider) will also offer advice, along with the Internet Watch Foundation - see the website in Related Information.

Remember - If you know about a child who is in immediate risk or danger, dial 999.

Unless the video or photo is of an indecent nature and of a child or of a criminal offence then the police will not get involved.

If the photo/video is for example, on one of the social networking websites, you could speak to the administrator of the internet site who may remove the material.

Otherwise, you would need to obtain a restraining order from the courts to order the removal of the material. You should seek advice from the Citizens Advice or a solicitor about this matter.

Revenge porn is the publication of explicit material portraying someone who has not consented for the image or video to be shared. The law now makes it illegal to disclose a "private sexual photograph or film" without the consent of the person depicted in the content, and with the intent to cause them distress.

People found guilty of this offence may face a fine or even imprisonment.