What to Do if Somebody Shares Your Nudes Online

Your rights and legal options, plus support and resources

Discovering that private, personal photos or videos of yourself have been shared without your permission is a devastating experience—but it's never, ever your fault. Sharing intimate images or videos without consent is known as revenge porn (also called nonconsensual intimate image abuse). Whether your cloud was hacked or an ex distributed your nudes without your consent, you have legal options at your disposal. In this article, we'll walk you through what to do if somebody posts your nudes without your consent, the laws surrounding revenge porn, and how to take care of yourself during and after experiencing this traumatic situation, with advice from therapist Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP.

What to Do After Somebody Leaks Your Nudes

  1. Remember that it's not your fault this happened—it's the perpetrator's fault alone.
  2. Reach out to a trusted adult to let them know what happened.
  3. Identify all instances of your nudes being leaked online.
  4. Report the nudes to Google, other search engines, and relevant social media sites.
  5. File a police report.
  6. Find an experienced attorney to file a revenge porn lawsuit.
Section 1 of 6:

Reporting Leaked Nudes

  1. Step 1 Save a copy of any messages you exchanged with the person who shared your nudes.
    Take screenshots and print them or save them to a flash drive or hard drive. Any interaction you've had with the person who posted your nudes can be used as evidence in a legal case.
    • If you were a minor when the photos or videos were taken, don't save a copy of the footage itself, as this may be legally interpreted as child pornography.[1]
  2. Step 2 Identify all instances of your private photos and videos online.
    Even if the perpetrator only shared your sensitive images or videos on one website, they may have been copied and pasted elsewhere after the fact by other users. Before reporting the incident to the police, try to track down as many instances as you can of your nudes online so that you can accrue evidence and begin the process of getting the nudes removed.[2]
    • Use Google's reverse image search tool to locate your nudes across the internet.
    • Search for nudes using Google's advanced filters.
    • If you're over eighteen years old, search popular adult websites for your nudes.
      • If you’re under eighteen, avoid visiting adult websites and instead ask your lawyer to conduct these searches for you.
    • Set a Google alert for your name so that you'll be notified any time your name is mentioned online, which can help you address any future posts that may pop up.
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  3. Step 3 Report the leak to Google and other search engines.
    Popular search engines allow you to submit requests to remove content shared without your permission. Use these links to make your reports: Google, Bing, and Yahoo!. Reporting revenge porn to search engines won't remove it from the internet, but it will remove it from search results, making it harder for other people to find.[3]
  4. Step 4 Report the shared nudes to any relevant social media websites.
    If your nudes have been shared on any social media sites, report the violation to the websites using these links: Twitter/X, Tumblr, Instagram, and Facebook. Consider blocking the accounts that shared your nudes as well.[4]
    • If your nudes appeared on a website not listed above, you can Google "report revenge porn on [website name]" to figure out where and how to report the violation and get the content removed.
  5. Step 5 Ask the perpetrator to take the posts down if you feel safe doing so.
    If you know who the perpetrator is and feel comfortable reaching out to them, you may be able to convince them to remove the posts.[5] If you don't feel safe doing this, or if you don't know who the perpetrator is, that’s okay—let an attorney handle the situation. They'll send the person a letter demanding that they take down the content they've posted.
    • For instance, you might say: John, I know we broke up, and it was hard. But this is too far. Not only that, it's illegal. Please take these photos down, and stop sharing them.
    • Here’s another example: Rand, I trusted you not to share these private photos. I'm asking you to remove them, or I'll pursue legal action.
    • If someone is threatening to share your nudes, explain that doing so would be illegal and you will pursue legal action against them.
    • If you are considering confronting the person who shared your nudes (or threatened to share them) and asking them to remove them, let someone you trust know what you're planning to do first, both to ensure your physical safety and for emotional support.
  6. Step 6 File a police report.
    You can file a police report in person at your local police station in person, or over the phone using a non-emergency number. You might want to tell a trusted friend or adult what's happening, and ask them to accompany you to the police station, or to report the incident themselves on your behalf.[6]
  7. Step 7 Find an experienced attorney to help you explore your legal options.
    You likely have a civil or criminal claim against the person who shared your nudes—or maybe both. The right attorney will be able to help you understand your federal and state legal options. We'll explain federal and state laws surrounding nonconsensual pornography more in the next section.
    • The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative is a nonprofit that fights online abuse. They offer a free 24/7 hotline to help victims of revenge porn at 1-844-878-2274. They also offer contact info for attorneys who provide free services to revenge porn victims.[7]
    • What's the difference between a civil and criminal case? A criminal case refers to a situation in which someone breaks a law (such as sharing private nudes, especially if the victim is a minor). A civil case is when a person sues another person, business, or organization.[8]
      • A criminal court judge can punish someone for breaking the law by sending them to jail. A civil court judge can order someone to pay money or a fine. If someone shares your nudes without your consent, you may have a criminal and/or civil claim against them.
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Section 2 of 6:

What is revenge porn?

  1. Revenge porn refers to nude or explicit photos or videos of you shared without your consent.
    The Distribution of Intimate Images Without Consent—often called "revenge porn" (even if the perpetrator's intention isn't to get revenge) or "nonconsensual pornography"—is when a sexually graphic image or video of you is shared without your permission.[9] Revenge porn might include:
    • Photos taken while you were in an intimate relationship (including pictures you took yourself and shared with your partner, with the intent/assumption that they would keep them private)
    • Hidden recordings
    • Pictures stolen from an electronic device (like your phone, tablet, computer, etc.)
    • Recordings of sexual assaults
    • Note: Revenge porn includes any intimate photos, videos, or recordings of you shared without your consent. However, consensual paid pornography and the authorized use of photos or videos don't qualify as revenge porn.
Section 3 of 6:

Federal & State Revenge Porn Laws

  1. Step 1 Revenge porn is against federal law.
    The 2025 TAKE IT DOWN Act (part of the 2022 Violence Against Women Act) criminalizes the nonconsensual publication of intimate images, including deepfakes, as well as threats to post intimate images. It also requires that certain websites and apps remove nonconsensual images at the request of the person depicted. Penalties for this crime can include prison time of up to two years (three, if the victim is a minor) and major fines.[10]
    • You can also file a civil action in federal court against someone who has shared your nudes without your permission.[11] Your lawyer can file the lawsuit for you, or you can represent yourself.
    • If you want to maintain some privacy, you can use a pseudonym in court, like "Jane Doe" or "John Doe."
    • The court can order the person who posted your nudes to:
      • Stop sharing your nudes;
      • Compensate you for any financial losses you experienced as a result of your nudes being shared;
      • Pay you $150,000; and/or
      • Cover your lawyer's fees and court costs.
  2. Step 2 The laws surrounding nonconsensual pornography vary from state to state.
    Most state laws forbid revenge porn, though the exact laws will vary in their scope and punishments. You can learn about your specific state's regulations using the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative's guide.
    • Even in states that don't explicitly criminalize "revenge porn," related laws may still apply. For example, if you live in Idaho, posting nonconsensual nudes may break the state's voyeurism laws.
  3. Step 3 Laws may vary depending on your specific circumstances.
    In addition to considering general state and federal regulations, facts about your specific case may affect how the situation is handled:
    • What if I'm being blackmailed? The TAKE IT DOWN Act also criminalizes threats to post nudes nonconsensually (which would legally qualify as blackmail, or "sextortion").[12]
      • If someone is actively threatening to post your nudes in exchange for money, don't pay them. Take screenshots of the interaction, block any online accounts that are threatening you, and report the incident to the police and your attorney.
      • In addition to blackmail, other related federal criminal statutes might apply, like cyberstalking.[13]
    • What if I'm a minor? If you were a minor when the photos were taken, the perpetrator may also be charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. This is a federal crime that carries severe penalties, including prison and heavy fines.[14]
      • Don't save copies of your nudes as evidence, since this could be legally interpreted as possession of child pornography (even though they're your own photos). Instead, make note of the websites where the nudes were posted and/or where they came from (for instance, a hack or data breach).
      • To report the exploitation of a minor (including yourself), visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline, or call their 24/7 hotline at 1-800-843-5678.[15]
    • What if my nudes were leaked by a minor? It's still illegal, and the same rules generally apply to minors who share nudes as to adults. The main difference is that while an adult may be held accountable for posting nudes if they knew or should have known their actions were harmful, a minor is only liable if they knew and meant to harm you.[16]
    • What if the perpetrator lives in another country? If they posted your nudes from another country, your lawyer can help you navigate filing a lawsuit against them in that country. The process will vary from country to country.
      • If the person who posted your nudes posted them from another country and is now in the U.S., you can still file a civil claim against them in the U.S.
    • What if I don't know who the perpetrator is? If you don't know who the person is who shared your nudes, you'll probably need to file a John Doe lawsuit to identify them.[17] Your attorney can help you navigate this process.
  4. Step 4 If you took the photos, you may submit a DMCA takedown notice.
    If you yourself took the photos or recorded the videos being distributed without your consent, you own the copyright, and sharing your nudes without your permission violates that copyright. In addition to (or instead of, if you'd prefer) filing a revenge porn lawsuit, you can file a DMCA takedown notice to get the content removed from the internet.[18]
    • You'll send your DMCA takedown notice to the service provider who is in charge of the website where you've found your nudes (you may have to do this more than once, if the content is posted on multiple sites).
    • If you can't determine who is in charge of a site, you can do a WHOIS search via ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to figure it out.
    • Many service providers make it simple to submit claims directly to them through an online DMCA takedown form (such as these forms on Twitter/X and Tumblr), but if the website you need to remove your nudes from doesn't make it clear how to submit a form, you can find more information about where to send a takedown notice by searching the provider's name on the U.S. Copyright Office website's directory.
    • Tip: Before filing a DMCA takedown notice, take a screenshot of the footage on the website for legal evidence if you were an adult when the photos or videos were taken. If you were a child at the time, record the location where the nudes were posted.
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Section 4 of 6:

Is it illegal to send my own nudes to someone?

  1. Step 1 If you're an adult, it is not illegal to send your own nudes to another consenting adult.
    As long as both you and another adult consent to sending and receiving sexually explicit photos or videos, and neither of you shares the other's nudes without their permission, everything is legal.[19]
    • Remember, even if you consented to sharing nudes with another person, if they post them without your permission, it's never your fault.
  2. Step 2 If you and/or the person you're exchanging nudes with is a minor, there may be legal concerns.
    Sexting can break child pornography laws if it involves pictures of a minor or sexually explicit images of an adult sent to a minor. The exact laws vary by state, but you can check out your state's sexting laws using Criminal Defense Lawyer's guide.
    • Sharing sexually explicit images can be illegal even if both parties are minors. For instance, if two sixteen-year-olds exchange nude images, they may be charged with possession of child pornography, even if they have no intention of sharing the images with anyone else.[20]
    • There have even been cases of minors being arrested for possessing nude photos of themselves.[21]
    • Because of these types of laws, many young people worry, understandably, about reporting revenge porn, concerned that they themselves would face legal charges if they willingly took and/or exchanged nude images.[22]
    • However, child pornography laws were mainly put in place to catch adult predators—not to get teenagers in trouble for sexting their romantic partners. Because of this, many states' laws surrounding sexting are less severe for minors who consensually sext each other or have nude selfies on their phones.[23]
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Section 5 of 6:

Seeking Support as a Victim

  1. Step 1 Call the police if you're concerned for your physical safety.
    Nearly half of all victims of revenge porn report being stalked or harassed after having their private images distributed online.[24] If you or your family are in any physical danger, contact law enforcement immediately. They'll be able to help you find safe housing and file a restraining order, if necessary.[25]
  2. Step 2 Reach out to a victim advocate or social worker in your area.
    They can help you gather evidence, go with you to the police or a lawyer's office, and figure out how to stay safe. You can find a victim advocate in your local police station, rape crisis center, domestic violence prevention center, state attorney general's office, sheriff's offices, and county offices.[26]
    • Victims of nonconsensual pornography can also reach out to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative Crisis Helpline at 844-878-2274 for support and non-legal advice on what to do next.[27]
  3. Step 3 Reach out to trusted loved ones for support.
    Experiencing nonconsensual distribution of private images can be a scary and emotional experience. You may feel like you've done something wrong by taking or sharing nudes, or that you somehow "deserve" what happened. You do not deserve what happened to you. It can help at this time to reach out to loved ones you trust, including parents, close friends, a teacher, or other trusted confidant. They will hopefully be able to offer emotional support and reassurance that you've done nothing wrong, and that things will be OK in time.
    • Many people who are victims of revenge porn, particularly minors, avoid sharing what happened with parents or legal authorities because they're worried that they'll face judgment, shame, or blame, or because they don't want to get the person responsible in trouble.[28]
    • If you have these worries, we encourage you to start by reaching out to one trusted peer to let them know what you're going through. Telling just one other trusted person can make all the difference to your emotional well-being. Ask them to be there with you when you report what happened to a trusted adult.
  4. Step 4 Consider seeking counseling.
    Being the victim of revenge porn can be a traumatizing experience. You may feel guilt, shame, humiliation, anger, depression, and a host of other complicated emotions—on top of the stress of navigating the legal system. Therapist Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP, recommends seeking counseling from a licensed therapist.[29]
    • Tenzer says, "Trauma is an experience that can greatly impact mental health and should not be navigated alone…With the help of a trained mental health clinician who specializes in trauma, one can begin to process the trauma, learn proper coping skills to deal with life after trauma, and accept their experience as a part of their existence. It is important to seek treatment right away, but it’s never too late to engage in therapy after a traumatic experience."[30]
    • How do I know if I have trauma? Per Dr. Tenzer, "If you find yourself often thinking about the event, having a strong emotional reaction or no reaction at all (feeling numb), intense mood swings, depression, anxiety, or negative thinking, that is a signal from your brain…that your usual thought patterns have been interrupted and…that trauma took place."[31]
    • According to a 2015 survey conducted by Cyber Civil Rights, 93% of revenge porn victims reported significant emotional distress, and 82% reported severe impairment in social, occupational, and other forms of functioning following the violation.[32]
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Section 6 of 6:

Final Thoughts

  1. Remember, what happened is not your fault. If someone you trusted leaked your photos, you might be thinking: Why did I even share my nudes with them? Why did I take them (or agree to take them)? This is understandable and common, but remember: none of this is your fault. The only person responsible for sharing your nudes is the perpetrator, and never, ever the victim.
    • If you've read this whole article and are feeling overwhelmed, remember that you don't have to deal with this alone. Get support from loved ones or victim advocates.
    • You might be worried about this experience ruining your reputation or following you forever. It feels dismissive to say the situation will "blow over" in time, but…it's likely it will. People have very short attention spans, and the odds are that most people will forget about what happened in a few months to a year. Life will go on.
    • While you may not be able to shake off feelings of shame or guilt overnight, in time, healing from the experience will get easier.
    • Be easy with yourself in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Nobody ever deserves to have their privacy violated like this—but in time, you’ll get past this.

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Warnings

  • This article is for informational purposes only. Consult a qualified lawyer for all legal advice.
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  • The information in this article pertains to readers in the United States; if you are in another country, the laws surrounding nonconsensual pornography may vary.
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References

  1. ↑ https://ncac.org/project/youth-free-expression-program/sexting-know-your-rights
  2. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center/
  3. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center/
  4. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center/
  5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9707732/
  6. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center/
  7. ↑ https://19thnews.org/2025/05/take-it-down-act-signing-explicit-images/
  8. ↑ https://www.lawhelp.org/resource/the-differences-between-criminal-court-and-ci
  9. ↑ https://legalvoice.org/nonconsensual-pornography/
  1. ↑ https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11314
  2. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/atj/sharing-intimate-images-without-consent-know-your-rights
  3. ↑ https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146/text
  4. ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2261A
  5. ↑ https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11314
  6. ↑ https://19thnews.org/2025/05/take-it-down-act-signing-explicit-images/
  7. ↑ https://legalvoice.org/nonconsensual-pornography/
  8. ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/john_doe
  9. ↑ https://copyrightalliance.org/faqs/how-to-send-dmca-takedown-notice/
  10. ↑ https://ncac.org/project/youth-free-expression-program/sexting-know-your-rights
  11. ↑ https://ncac.org/project/youth-free-expression-program/sexting-know-your-rights
  12. ↑ https://ncac.org/project/youth-free-expression-program/sexting-know-your-rights
  13. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9707732/
  14. ↑ https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/juvenile/sexting.htm
  15. ↑ https://dworakpeck.usc.edu/news/what-to-do-if-youre-victim-of-revenge-porn
  16. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center/
  17. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/ccri-safety-center/
  18. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/ccri-crisis-helpline/
  19. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9707732/
  20. ↑ Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP. Therapist. Expert Interview
  21. ↑ Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP. Therapist. Expert Interview
  22. ↑ Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP. Therapist. Expert Interview
  23. ↑ https://cybercivilrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Guide-for-Legislators-10.21.pdf

About This Article

Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP
This article was co-authored by Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA. Rebecca Tenzer is the owner and head clinician at Astute Counseling Services, a private counseling practice in Chicago, Illinois. With over 18 years of clinical and educational experience in the field of mental health, Rebecca specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, panic, trauma, grief, interpersonal relationships using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, and other evidence-based practices. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology and Anthropology from DePauw University, a Master in Teaching (MAT) from Dominican University, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Chicago. Rebecca has served as a member of the AmeriCorps and is also a Professor of Psychology at the collegiate level. Rebecca is trained as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CBT), a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Grief Counseling Specialist (CGCS), a Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), and a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP). Rebecca is also a member of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Society of America and The National Association of Social Workers.
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