What is the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative?
The US nonprofit that shaped the vocabulary of image-based sexual abuse, runs a 24/7 crisis helpline and tracks state and federal laws on non-consensual intimate imagery.
General information about a third-party victim service, not legal advice. Images found on this site: NCII report.
The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 by Dr. Holly Jacobs after her own intimate images were distributed without consent. It serves victims of image-based sexual abuse through a 24/7 crisis helpline and Safety Center, publishes research, files amicus briefs and advocates for laws such as the TAKE IT DOWN Act.
CCRI services and related resources
Checked against the linked sources on September 3, 2026; no editor scores here (how we rate).
| Service | Who can use | How it works | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCRI Crisis Helpline | US residents facing non-consensual pornography, recorded assault or sextortion | Call 844-878-2274, 24/7; information, referrals, interpretation | Toll-free | CCRI |
| CCRI Safety Center | Victims and survivors of image-based abuse, mainly adults | Guidance on safety, evidence, image search and removal | Free | CCRI |
| CCRI Legal Landscape | Victims, attorneys, journalists, legislators | State-by-state summary of NCII laws and amicus briefs | Free | CCRI |
| StopNCII.org | Adults who were 18+ in the image | On-device hashing; partners block matches | Free | StopNCII.org |
| Take It Down | Anyone under 18 when the image was taken | On-device hashing; NCMEC list scanned by partners | Free | NCMEC |
What does CCRI do?
CCRI’s stated mission is “to combat online abuses that threaten civil rights and civil liberties.” Its work spans five programs: victim and survivor services, tech policy, legislative reform, research and outreach. It began in 2012 as the End Revenge Porn campaign, which gathered signatures to criminalize non-consensual distribution of intimate images and connected victims with pro bono attorneys.
CCRI’s research is widely cited: by its figures, 1 in 8 adult social-media users have been targeted with non-consensual distribution of intimate images, 1 in 12 have been victims, and 1 in 20 have perpetrated it. Its president is law professor Mary Anne Franks.
How does the crisis helpline work?
The CCRI Crisis Helpline, 844-878-CCRI (2274), is toll-free and answered 24 hours a day by cross-trained representatives. It serves people in the United States dealing with non-consensual pornography, recorded sexual assault or sextortion, offering information, referrals and non-legal advice with interpretation in most languages. Callers in physical danger are told to contact law enforcement first.
The Safety Center adds written guidance: preserving evidence, searching for copies, filing removal requests with search engines and hosts, and finding advocates, attorneys and therapists. International organizations are listed for people outside the United States.
What terminology does CCRI use?
CCRI prefers image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) as the umbrella term for non-consensual creation or distribution of private sexual images, and NDII — non-consensual distribution of intimate images — instead of “revenge porn,” which wrongly implies a motive. Synthetic content from the tools reviewed here falls under the “creation” arm of IBSA and is treated in federal law as a deepfake “digital forgery.” The definitions in this site’s NCII entry follow CCRI’s usage.
How does CCRI relate to the TAKE IT DOWN Act and this site?
CCRI’s legislative program lists the TAKE IT DOWN Act (S. 146), signed May 19, 2025, among its priorities, alongside amicus briefs defending state statutes. The act criminalizes publishing NCII and AI digital forgeries and obliges covered platforms to remove reported images within 48 hours from May 19, 2026. The pending DEFIANCE Act would add a civil remedy. Clothoff AI cites CCRI as the primary US victim resource in every review and on the NCII report page, and points adult victims to StopNCII.org. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
All sources accessed September 3, 2026.
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative — mission, programs, research
- About CCRI — founding in 2013 by Dr. Holly Jacobs
- CCRI Crisis Helpline — 844-878-2274
- CCRI Safety Center — guidance for victims
- TAKE IT DOWN Act, S.146 / Public Law 119-12 — Congress.gov
- StopNCII.org — hashing service for adults
- Take It Down — NCMEC hashing service
Corrections: editorial@clothoff.ai · Editorial policy
Frequently asked questions
Who founded the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative?
Dr. Holly Jacobs founded CCRI in 2013 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit after her own private images were posted online in 2011 and sent to her employer, peers and family. She had started the End Revenge Porn campaign in 2012, which became the hub that CCRI grew out of.
What is the CCRI helpline number?
The CCRI Crisis Helpline is 844-878-CCRI, that is 844-878-2274. It is toll-free, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and serves US residents affected by non-consensual pornography, recorded sexual assault or sextortion with information, referrals and non-legal advice.
Does CCRI remove images?
Not directly. The Safety Center explains how to preserve evidence, search for copies and file removal requests with platforms and search engines, and refers people to attorneys. For hash-based blocking, CCRI points adults to StopNCII.org and anyone under 18 in the image to NCMEC’s Take It Down.
Does CCRI help with AI-generated or deepfake images?
Yes. CCRI’s definition of image-based sexual abuse covers the non-consensual creation of private sexual images, which includes synthetic “digital forgeries.” Its legislative work supported the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which criminalizes publishing such content and requires platforms to remove it within 48 hours.
What research figures does CCRI publish?
CCRI reports that 1 in 8 adult social-media users have been targets of non-consensual distribution of intimate images, 1 in 12 have been victims and 1 in 20 have perpetrated it. The figures come from CCRI’s own survey research and are cited across its policy and legislative materials.
Can people outside the United States use CCRI?
The helpline serves US residents, but the Safety Center lists international organizations that assist people elsewhere. Adults anywhere in the world can also use StopNCII.org, and anyone whose image was taken before age 18 can use NCMEC’s Take It Down regardless of where they live.