Teen Girl, 16, Reports Snapchat Threats and Intimate Image Leak
A 16-year-old in Mauritius has filed a police complaint after receiving threats on Snapchat and having intimate content shared without consent on Telegram.
A 16-year-old girl in Mauritius has filed a police complaint after being threatened on Snapchat and having intimate images of her shared without her consent on Telegram, according to a report by Le Defi Media.
The case highlights a growing concern across Mauritius around the non-consensual sharing of private images, often called revenge porn or image-based abuse, which disproportionately targets young women and minors online.
Snapchat and Telegram are two widely used messaging platforms among teenagers in Mauritius. Snapchat is known for disappearing messages but content can still be screenshotted or saved, while Telegram allows users to create large group channels where files, including images and videos, can be shared rapidly and anonymously. This makes both platforms difficult for victims to police and for authorities to act on swiftly.
The victim, whose identity is protected given her age, took the step of reporting the matter to police. In Mauritius, complaints of this nature typically fall under the Information and Communication Technologies Act (ICT Act) and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, which criminalise online harassment, threats and the non-consensual sharing of intimate content. Cases involving minors can also engage child protection legislation.
The Mauritius Police Force has a dedicated cybercrime unit that handles digital offences, though victims and advocacy groups have long called for faster response times and more specialised resources to deal with the volume of online abuse cases.
What this means: Cases like this one are not isolated. The non-consensual sharing of intimate images causes severe psychological harm, and when the victim is a minor, it constitutes a serious criminal offence in Mauritius. Parents, teachers and young people should be aware that sharing or forwarding such content, even if received unsolicited, can itself be a criminal act. Victims are encouraged to report immediately to the Mauritius Police Force and to preserve evidence such as screenshots of threats before blocking the perpetrator, as this assists investigators. Support is also available through the Child Development Unit and social welfare services.
Source: Le Defi Media
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sharing intimate images without consent illegal in Mauritius?β
Yes. In Mauritius, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act and the ICT Act. When the victim is a minor, additional child protection laws apply and penalties are more severe. Victims can report to the Mauritius Police Force cybercrime unit.
Where can a minor in Mauritius report online threats or image-based abuse?β
Minors can report to any Mauritius Police Force station or directly to the cybercrime unit. The Child Development Unit, operating under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, also provides support and can assist with referrals to counselling and legal help.
What should a victim do before reporting non-consensual image sharing in Mauritius?β
Victims should take screenshots of any threats, messages or posts as evidence before blocking the perpetrator, since blocking may make it harder to retrieve evidence later. They should then report to the police with this documentation. Do not forward or share the intimate content further, as this can itself be a criminal act.
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