Is Revenge Porn Illegal in My State?
Click on your state below to learn more about its laws on nonconsensual pornography, including whether civil and/or criminal penalties are available. Each state also offers potential remedies under federal law (15 U.S.C. § 6851).
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Alabama
Criminal law: Yes – Ala. Code § 13A-6-240.
Civil remedies: Possible – Alabama does not have a civil revenge porn statute, but victims may sue under invasion of privacy or IIED theories.
Federal option: Victims may also have claims under the federal civil revenge porn law, passed in 2022 as part of VAWA reauthorization.
Alaska
Criminal law: Yes – Alaska Stat. § 11.61.123.
Civil remedies: Yes – Victims may also bring civil actions for damages.
Federal option: Also protected under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Arizona
Criminal law: Yes – A.R.S. § 13-1425.
Civil remedies: Yes – Arizona allows civil suits under its criminal statute.
Federal option: Additional civil relief available under federal law.
Arkansas
Criminal law: Yes – Ark. Code § 5-26-314.
Civil remedies: Possible – Civil liability may arise under privacy torts.
Federal option: Civil claims may also be available under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
California
Criminal law: Yes – Cal. Penal Code § 647(j)(4).
Civil remedies: Yes – California provides a private right of action in addition to criminal penalties.
Federal option: Victims may sue under federal law as well.
Colorado
Criminal law: Yes – Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-7-107.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil lawsuits are permitted under the criminal statute.
Federal option: Additional protection is available under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Connecticut
Criminal law: Yes – Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189c.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil claims may accompany criminal charges.
Federal option: Federal civil claims are also available: § 6851.
Delaware
Criminal law: Yes – 11 Del. C. § 1335.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil remedies exist for victims.
Federal option: Victims may also file suit under federal law.
Florida
Criminal law: Yes – Fla. Stat. § 784.049.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil claims are authorized under the statute.
Federal option: Victims may also bring claims under the federal revenge porn statute.
Georgia
Criminal law: Yes – O.C.G.A. § 16-11-90.
Civil remedies: Possible – Georgia does not have a civil revenge porn statute, but privacy-based torts may apply.
Federal option: Additional civil relief is available under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Hawaii
Criminal law: Yes – Haw. Rev. Stat. § 711-1110.9.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil claims are permitted in addition to criminal penalties.
Federal option: Federal civil claims under 15 U.S.C. § 6851 may also apply.
Idaho
Criminal law: Yes – Idaho Code § 18-6609.
Civil remedies: Possible – Idaho does not have a standalone civil statute, but tort claims may be available.
Federal option: Victims may also pursue relief under federal law.
Illinois
Criminal law: Yes – 720 ILCS 5/11-23.5.
Civil remedies: Yes – Illinois explicitly authorizes civil actions by victims.
Federal option: Additional civil protections exist under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Indiana
Criminal law: Yes – Ind. Code § 35-45-4-8.
Civil remedies: Possible – Indiana does not provide a specific civil statute, but general tort claims may apply.
Federal option: Federal civil remedies are available under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Iowa
Criminal law: Yes – Iowa Code § 708.7 (Harassment).
Civil remedies: Yes – Victims may pursue damages under Iowa’s civil laws.
Federal option: Also eligible under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Kansas
Criminal law: Yes – Kan. Stat. § 21-6101 (breach of privacy).
Civil remedies: Possible – No direct civil revenge porn statute, but tort remedies may be available.
Federal option: Civil suits may also be filed under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Kentucky
Criminal law: Yes – Ky. Rev. Stat. § 531.120.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil lawsuits are authorized under the statute.
Federal option: Federal law may also provide civil relief: § 6851.
Louisiana
Criminal law: Yes – La. R.S. § 14:283.2.
Civil remedies: Yes – Louisiana provides a private right of action.
Federal option: Federal civil remedies are also available: 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Maine
Criminal law: Yes – Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 511-A.
Civil remedies: Possible – Maine allows civil claims under general privacy torts.
Federal option: Victims may also sue under federal law.
Maryland
Criminal law: Yes – Md. Crim. Law § 3-809.
Civil remedies: Yes – Maryland law allows civil claims for nonconsensual pornography.
Federal option: Victims are also eligible to file suit under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Massachusetts
Criminal law: Yes – Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 105.
Civil remedies: Yes – The law includes a civil private right of action.
Federal option: Civil claims also permitted under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Michigan
Criminal law: Yes – Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.145e.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil relief is authorized in addition to criminal penalties.
Federal option: Victims may also seek civil damages under federal law.
Minnesota
Criminal law: Yes – Minn. Stat. § 617.261.
Civil remedies: Yes – Minnesota provides a statutory civil cause of action.
Federal option: Victims also have civil rights under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Mississippi
Criminal law: Yes – Miss. Code § 97-29-61.
Civil remedies: Possible – No explicit civil statute, but victims may bring tort claims.
Federal option: Federal civil remedies apply under § 6851.
Missouri
Criminal law: Yes – Mo. Rev. Stat. § 573.110.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil relief is available under Missouri law.
Federal option: Civil claims may also be brought under federal law.
Montana
Criminal law: Yes – Mont. Code § 45-8-213.
Civil remedies: Possible – Victims may pursue civil claims under privacy torts.
Federal option: 15 U.S.C. § 6851 may provide additional relief.
Nebraska
Criminal law: Yes – Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-311.08.
Civil remedies: Yes – Nebraska allows victims to bring civil actions.
Federal option: Federal civil remedy available under § 6851.
Nevada
Criminal law: Yes – Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.780.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil liability is allowed in Nevada.
Federal option: Victims may also sue under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
New Hampshire
Criminal law: Yes – N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:9.
Civil remedies: Yes – A civil cause of action is allowed under New Hampshire law.
Federal option: Victims may also file under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
New Jersey
Criminal law: Yes – N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-9.
Civil remedies: Yes – New Jersey law allows victims to bring civil claims against offenders for the unlawful distribution of intimate images.
Federal option: Victims may also pursue relief under the federal civil revenge porn statute, 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
New Mexico
Criminal law: Yes – N.M. Stat. § 30-37A-1.
Civil remedies: Yes – New Mexico permits civil lawsuits for nonconsensual image distribution.
Federal option: Victims may also pursue claims under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
New York
Criminal law: Yes – N.Y. Penal Law § 245.15.
Civil remedies: Yes – New York provides a private right of action for victims.
Federal option: Federal civil remedies also apply under § 6851.
North Carolina
Criminal law: Yes – N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-190.5A.
Civil remedies: Yes – North Carolina allows civil claims for unlawful disclosure of private images.
Federal option: Victims may also sue under federal law.
North Dakota
Criminal law: Yes – N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-17-07.2.
Civil remedies: Possible – No explicit civil statute, but privacy torts may apply.
Federal option: Victims may pursue federal civil claims under § 6851.
Ohio
Criminal law: Yes – Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.211.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil remedies are permitted under the statute.
Federal option: Civil remedies are also available under federal law.
Oklahoma
Criminal law: Yes – Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 1040.13b.
Civil remedies: Possible – Oklahoma does not provide a specific civil statute, but tort claims may be pursued.
Federal option: Victims may bring civil actions under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Oregon
Criminal law: Yes – Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.472.
Civil remedies: Yes – Oregon provides a statutory civil remedy for victims.
Federal option: Civil claims under federal law are also available.
Pennsylvania
Criminal law: Yes – 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3131.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil suits are authorized under Pennsylvania law.
Federal option: Federal civil law also applies: 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Rhode Island
Criminal law: Yes – R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-64-3.
Civil remedies: Possible – Tort remedies may apply, but there is no separate civil statute.
Federal option: Federal civil relief available under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
South Carolina
Criminal law: Yes – S.C. Code § 16-17-490.
Civil remedies: Possible – South Carolina does not have a specific civil statute, but common law torts may provide relief.
Federal option: Victims may also seek relief under the federal civil statute: § 6851.
South Dakota
Criminal law: Yes – S.D. Codified Laws § 22-21-4.
Civil remedies: Possible – South Dakota does not provide a specific civil remedy, but victims may bring tort claims.
Federal option: Federal civil remedies are also available under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Tennessee
Criminal law: Yes – Tenn. Code § 39-17-318.
Civil remedies: Yes – Tennessee allows civil suits under its criminal statute.
Federal option: Victims may also file suit under federal law.
Texas
Criminal law: Yes – Tex. Penal Code § 21.16.
Civil remedies: Yes – Texas law provides a civil cause of action.
Federal option: Victims may also sue under the federal civil law: § 6851.
Utah
Criminal law: Yes – Utah Code § 76-5b-203.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil remedies are permitted under Utah law.
Federal option: Federal claims are available under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Vermont
Criminal law: Yes – 13 V.S.A. § 2606.
Civil remedies: Yes – Vermont’s law includes a private right of action for victims.
Federal option: Federal civil claims may also be brought under § 6851.
Virginia
Criminal law: Yes – Va. Code § 18.2-386.2.
Civil remedies: Yes – Virginia law permits victims to file civil lawsuits.
Federal option: Victims may also pursue relief under the federal civil statute: 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Washington
Criminal law: Yes – Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.86.010.
Civil remedies: Yes – Washington law explicitly provides a civil cause of action.
Federal option: Civil lawsuits under federal law are also available.
West Virginia
Criminal law: Yes – W. Va. Code § 61-8C-2a.
Civil remedies: Possible – West Virginia does not have a specific civil statute, but privacy-based torts may be viable.
Federal option: Civil claims may also be filed under § 6851.
Wisconsin
Criminal law: Yes – Wis. Stat. § 942.09.
Civil remedies: Yes – Civil claims are allowed under Wisconsin law.
Federal option: Federal civil suits may also be brought under 15 U.S.C. § 6851.
Wyoming
Criminal law: Yes – Wyo. Stat. § 6-4-304.
Civil remedies: Possible – No dedicated civil statute, but general tort claims may apply.
Federal option: Victims may also file federal claims under § 6851.