Dominican Republic launches tool to prevent non-consensual sharing of intimate images

The Dominican Republic has become the first Latin American country to implement StopNCII.org, a free tool designed to prevent the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The initiative was launched by the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS), an agency under the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI), in collaboration with the British organization SWGfL and with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The platform works by allowing users to generate a unique digital code, or hash, from their own devices without uploading the actual files to any server. This code enables technology platforms to detect and block the content if anyone attempts to publish it. Globally, the tool has protected over two million images and successfully removes more than 90 percent of targeted cases.

Luis Soto, director of the DNI, emphasized that protecting citizens online is essential to national security. He noted that the unauthorized distribution of intimate images is a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison under the new Penal Code. Authorities also highlighted the psychological impact of digital violence, noting that the Ministry Public received over 10,400 high-technology crime reports in 2024.