Image Angel and STISA Partner to Combat Image-Based Sexual Abuse Worldwide

Image Angel has taken a decisive step toward ending image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) by partnering with STISA – Survivors & Tech Solving Image-Based Sexual Abuse. STISA is the world’s first global survivor-focused network dedicated to accelerating the removal of abusive intimate content online.

Addressing the Global Crisis of Image-Based Sexual Abuse

The non-consensual sharing of intimate images, whether authentic or deepfake synthetic content, continues to cause lasting harm to survivors worldwide. Online platforms often fail to remove abusive content quickly, while governments struggle to regulate it effectively. All too often, the victim-blaming narrative overshadows accountability for perpetrators.

Combining Technology with Survivor-Centered Advocacy

This new partnership unites Image Angel’s forensic watermarking technology, which enables the identification of those responsible for image leaks, with STISA’s survivor-first global network of helplines, hotlines and advocacy initiatives. Together, we aim to:

• Amplify advocacy efforts
• Deter offenders through traceable content
• Deliver rapid, survivor-led responses to remove abusive material

“STISA’s survivor-first advocacy perfectly complements our mission at Image Angel,” said Madelaine Thomas, Founder and CEO of Image Angel. “Together, we are closing the gap between preventing abuse and supporting survivors when it happens—ensuring perpetrators are identified, victims are empowered, and content is removed swiftly.”

A Coordinated Global Response

Founded in 2024, STISA addresses a critical gap: the absence of coordinated global advocacy and operational support for IBSA survivors. Its mission is to safeguard survivor dignity, amplify their voices, and ensure every action taken is shaped by their lived experience. Working closely with its members, STISA undertakes a range of initiatives designed to combat image-based sexual abuse.

These include raising public awareness of IBSA, driving innovative technology projects to detect and remove abusive content from online platforms and collaborating with universities to research emerging trends. STISA also forges strategic partnerships with platforms and technology providers to streamline content removal, while working on joint grant applications that fund anti-IBSA efforts.

A United Front Against Image-Based Sexual Abuse

With the scale and sophistication of IBSA growing worldwide, the Image Angel–STISA partnership represents a powerful alliance—pairing cutting-edge forensic technology with a survivor-led movement to trace offenders, deter abuse, and deliver immediate support to those affected.