but what is “sextortion”?

The case of the Mathieu Valbuena sextape target = “_ blank”> returns to the front of the stage. Revealed in 2015, it is a story of blackmail in the dissemination of intimate images of footballer Mathieu Valbuena, stolen from his cell phone. The defendants are four men in the professional football world and the player Karim Benzema. The latter, sued for “complicity in attempted blackmail “, risks a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros.

One of the defendants, Axel Angot, a sort of luxury concierge in the football world, is on trial for breach of trust for having extracted and then kept the video belonging to Valbuena. Benzema, him, is suspected of having incited Valbuena to pay the blackmailers, when instead pleads for friend to friend advice vis-à-vis Valbuena on what to do. He told the judge in 2015: “He’s a friend. I’ve known him for a long time. I’ve known him in the France team, we’re often together. There was a story in 2012, I defended him (…) It’s someone I appreciate. It was only help, I had nothing else on my mind, blackmail or money. Money, I have it. I don’t I don’t need it. “ For her part, Valbuena feels “that the one he considered his friend is in cahoots with those who blackmail him”, according to his lawyer, Me Paul-Albert Iweins. The trial resumes this Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

They threaten to broadcast an intimate video of me. What can I do ?

The law provides that the image and personal information of a person must be protected as this is the fundamental right to privacy of individuals. The transmission or dissemination of an image of a person in a private place and without their consent may be punished by one year’s imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros (article 226-1 Criminal Code). If it is an image or a video taken in a public place (in the street, the beach…), revealing it is also prohibited.

If someone threatens to post a photo or video of you, or to reveal information with the intention of harming you, that is blackmail under the law. This is punishable by 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine of € 75,000. If these threats are carried out, we are talking about “sextortion”, which is punished like extortion: the penalty is 7 years imprisonment and a fine of € 100,000 (article 312-1 of the Penal Code).

If this happens to you, don’t be left alone. If you are under 18, do not dare talk about it, or want to get information from professionals in the subject, you can call the number Net-Listeningtarget = “_ blank”> on 0 800 200 000 anonymously and confidentially. The call is free from a landline phone and at the cost of a normal call from a mobile. If you are of legal age, you can file a complaint.

Also to see : What is cyber-harassment?

Video by Clara Poudevigne