Keeping your information and personal data private in our digital world has become increasingly difficult. It’s not just your personal data that can be leaked online, either. Revenge porn is when someone shares an intimate photo or video of you without your consent. When this happens, it can feel embarrassing, and it feels like your world has come crashing down. You might worry about your job and your reputation, and your mental health can take a major hit.

Thankfully, in almost all states, revenge porn is illegal, and there are very specific actions you can take if you find that intimate photos of yourself have been leaked online. Here, you can learn more about what exactly revenge porn is and what your options are if you’re a victim.  

What is Revenge Porn?

First, it’s important to understand the proper terminology. StopNCII.org (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse) advises against using the term revenge porn. Rather, they prefer the term “nonconsensual distribution of intimate images (NDII).” The term revenge, they explain, “suggests that the victim-survivor did something to cause the violation of their intimate privacy. This inappropriately places blame on the victim, instead of the offender.” They also explain that sometimes, the perpetrator is motivated by financial gain, entertainment, or other reasons not related to revenge. Other terms you may hear used include nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) and nonconsensual pornography (NCP). 

Sometimes, people feel like it is their fault when they are a victim of NDII, especially if they took the images themselves. However, even if you took the images yourself or allowed them to be taken, it is not your fault if you are a victim. Of course, NDII can happen when you are photographed or recorded without your consent as well. Artificial intelligence has even begun to play a role as people have begun using AI to create sexually explicit images. Any sexually explicit image of you that was shared without your consent can be considered NDII. It’s common to feel shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, and other negative emotions when you’re the victim of NDII. 

What To Do If You’re The Victim Of Nonconsensual Distribution Of Intimate Images

It’s incredibly devastating to learn that images of yourself have been shared without your consent. Understandably, you’ll want them removed as soon as possible, and that’s what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends doing as well. The first step in this process is usually reporting it on the platform it was posted on. You can also do a reverse image search to find if the image has been posted anywhere else. 

Concurrently, it’s also important to screenshot and save any images or videos that are shared, as difficult as this can be for you to do. Save the exact URL of the images as well as a PDF file of the website it appears on. It’s important to have proof and provide as much evidence as possible if you plan to pursue legal action. 

Next, you’ll want to check the laws in your state. Most states and Washington D.C. have laws against NDII. Currently, South Carolina and Massachusetts are the only two states without laws illegalizing NDII, though Massachusetts currently has a bill in the works. Knowing the laws in your state will help you understand more about what your options are and from there, you can contact law enforcement. The exact crime and legal process will vary by state, and a lawyer can help you navigate that, as it can be confusing. 

Navigating what to do if you have been a victim is difficult from both a legal and an emotional standpoint. It can be difficult to know what to do next especially when you’re feeling upset about what happened. Contacting a lawyer who specializes in NDII can be incredibly helpful. A revenge porn lawyer can help you get the images taken down, and they can also help you maintain or restore your reputation as well as seek monetary compensation. Many people have won NDII lawsuits for large sums of money and as this unfortunately becomes an ongoing issue, there are only going to be more lawsuits.  

Because the NDII or revenge porn laws vary by state, it’s very helpful to have a lawyer help you through the process. The earlier you contact a lawyer, the better. He or she can also help you collect evidence to help build your case and get the images removed. 

In addition to contacting a lawyer, it can be very helpful to speak to a therapist or other mental health professional. The mental and emotional consequences of being a victim cannot be understated. There can be a lot of things to work through and manage mentally when you are a victim, and a therapist can help so you’re not left to navigate those emotions alone. 

Revenge Porn Lawsuits

Because being a victim of NDII is so emotionally distressing, it’s easy to feel like it’s not worth contacting an attorney and going through the legal process. It can feel daunting, and you may not want to go through the difficult process of facing the perpetrator. However, there is a strong history of victims of NDII being awarded large sums of money as a result of their lawsuits. Victims have also been successful in completely taking down websites that host nonconsensual pornography. And even if you aren’t awarded a large sum of money, a lawyer is still a person to have on your side to help you navigate what to do as you overcome this difficult situation. 

In 2022, a Texax woman, known as D.L., was awarded $1.2 billion in a revenge porn lawsuit. Her ex-boyfriend posted intimate images of her on social media and adult websites. In 2021, a Maryland woman was awarded $500,000 in a revenge porn case. Her ex-boyfriend posted nude images and videos of her to a pornography website. He was also ordered to destroy all explicit images of her. In another case, a California woman was awarded $6.45 million in a revenge porn case. Her ex-boyfriend spread nude photos of her online. There have also been cases where victims have sued websites and social media platforms for hosting or failing to remove revenge porn images. As these cases continue to evolve, it’s likely that people will continue to be awarded money and the perpetrators will have to face what they have done.