Revenge porn is a topic that has gathered increasing attention in recent years, and rightly so. With the proliferation of camera phones and websites where people can publicly post sexy photos and videos, publishing private sexual images has become a horrible new weapon used by sexual abusers to try and humiliate or otherwise harm people. In this guide we will talk you through revenge porn: what is it, what the law says in the UK as well as intimate image abuse laws elsewhere, how to report it if you have been a victim, and other things you might want to know if you’re taking and sharing sex-related images with lovers.
What is revenge porn (intimate image abuse)?
‘Revenge porn’ is a broad term that can encompass a lot of sexual media, but primarily photos and videos that have been taken in private. Sexual images become ‘revenge porn’ when they are shared—often with the explicit intention to cause shame or harm to one, or more, of the people featured. The most common examples are usually ex-lovers who feel spurned or hurt by break-ups and decide to seek ‘revenge’ by sharing content that was never intended to be public.
The term ‘revenge porn’ is in itself controversial though, because revenge implies payback for something the person has done wrong. But often those who share this porn have not truly been wronged, only dumped or rejected. For this reason, some people prefer the term ‘intimate image abuse’ or ‘nonconsensual distribution of intimate images’, so we will use those terms interchangeably in this article. Broadly this term means any image or video which was taken/shared privately, which has now been shared publicly without the subject’s consent.
Examples of revenge porn/intimate image abuse
Let’s say that a hypothetical couple, Alex and Ashley, enjoyed taking nude photos when they were together and sharing pictures privately to maintain a sexy connection when they were apart. After they break up, Ashley feels aggrieved and shares those images to a forum somewhere with the intention of slut-shaming Alex: this is a classic and, sadly, all-too-common, revenge porn scenario.
However, there are many other scenarios in which one could still be prosecuted for sharing revenge porn, these crimes are not always committed by intimate partners. Let’s say Ashley has never met Alex but has been sent their nudes by a mutual friend. If Ashley shares those sexual images, they could still be committing this criminal act. If Ashley instead hacks a celebrity’s phone and threatens to share those images, that is also considered intimate image abuse. Blackmailing someone with their nudes, no matter how you acquired those nudes, also falls under some revenge porn laws. If you get sent an unsolicited dick pic—a serious and common problem—be aware that sharing it publicly, or threatening to, could also make you liable to prosecution. This should not detract from the severity of receiving one though. Sending unsolicited dick pics or other types of nude is a crime in and of itself which you can also report if you wish: check out Rape Crisis’ advice on ‘cyber flashing‘ for more information.
What is the law on revenge porn/intimate image abuse?
The first thing to note is that the law on intimate image abuse in England and Wales, changed at the end of January 2024, and it is not retroactive. This means that when the incident occurred is important in determining which law will apply.
Prior to 2024, the law said that it was a criminal offence to share an intimate image with the intent to cause distress. This would cover the most common forms of revenge porn, including in our original example with Alex and Ashley above. However, it would not cover intimate image abuse where it was not clear that ‘distress’ was the intent. So if Ashley believed they had Alex’s permission to share the images, or could argue that they did not know that sharing them would cause distress, then potentially they would not be successfully prosecuted. Now, however, the law in England and Wales covers disclosing, or threatening to disclose, a private sexual image without consent, and there is no longer a need for that sharing to be done with the ‘intent to cause distress.’
In Scotland, the law is similar but does still include some caveats around intent—the act of sharing must be done ‘with intent to cause fear, alarm or distress, or recklessness to do so’. Northern Ireland still requires the ‘intent to cause distress’.
In the US, revenge porn laws vary by state but there has been a wave in recent years of states passing their own laws outlawing intimate image abuse which they often refer to as ‘non consensual pornography’ or ‘nonconsensual distribution of intimate images [NDII]—there are many different terms! You can view a map of which states have these laws in place here, and click on your own state to see what provisions there are.
What kind of images count as revenge porn?
This can be a tricky subject and it will depend on the jurisdiction you’re in, and the detail of the law as it is written. In some places, intimate images and video will be defined as those that include sexual activity—such as blow jobs, touching, penetration—or full nudity including visible genitals. Others have stricter rules that will also encompass photos/videos that show someone in underwear.
On top of this, because of new digital editing tools, there is also the question of how the law treats ‘deepfakes’ and other images that may not be real—or even only be partially real. For example, if Ashley shares an image of Alex that is created using AI, putting Alex’s head onto a fake, nude, AI-generated body. In some countries/states, such as Texas in the US or Scotland in the UK, this will be classed as intimate image abuse and therefore subject to the same legal penalties as if it were a real photo. On the other hand, a ‘deepfake’ nude created and shared somewhere like Iowa or Northern Ireland would not be subject to the same legal penalties as a real nude, because those places do not classify deepfakes as revenge porn in the same way as real images.
What to do if you’re a victim of revenge porn?
It is important to remember if you find yourself a victim of intimate image abuse, that it is never your fault—it is the fault of the perpetrator. Sexual crimes, especially ones which are committed by those we may know and/or have loved, are often magnets for those who wish to victim-blame. It’s very easy for people to have opinions about what you should and shouldn’t share with lovers, particularly people who grew up in eras before ubiquitous smartphones, to whom the idea of sharing intimate images in the first place seems too risky to contemplate. But we live in a global, connected world and it is very common for people to share nude images or videos with those they love and trust, and consensual sharing of private images is never an invitation for someone to share those images publicly in order to shame you or cause you harm.
Having said this, sending nudes or taking intimate photos of yourselves and lovers is a sex act like any other and therefore consent for it should never be assumed. You are always well within your rights to say no. The other side of the coin to the point above is that, for younger generations, sharing nudes has now become so commonplace that it is often a source of pressure—some people feel compelled to share nudes because it is the done thing. But you never have to perform sex acts you aren’t comfortable with. If you want to enjoy taking intimate images with a partner but you’re concerned about sharing or hacking, investing in a ‘dumb’ camera phone (i.e. one that will never be connected to the internet) could be a fun way to indulge your desires without worrying that the pictures will ever go online. Above all remember that it is always OK to say no if you want to, and if you choose to say yes then your partner must respect your conditions—including the condition that photos you share with them will never be shared more widely.
How to report intimate image abuse/revenge porn?
Given the variety of legal approaches, it can be exhausting and confusing to work out whether and how to report revenge porn if you find yourself a victim of it. The first thing to do, if you’re in the UK, is check out the Revenge Porn Helpline website. There is also a phone number to call if you would like to talk through what has happened and get tailored advice and guidance. In the US, the Cyber Civil Rights Safety Center provides a similar service.
In the short term, if you’re worried about the immediate consequences of those pictures being made public, it may be worth also looking into the specific policies of the site where they have been shared. Most big websites will have processes in place for you to report and have them taken down swiftly. For example, here is Facebook’s guidance on how to report images or threats to share them, and here is the relevant guidance on another Meta site, Instagram. Here is the information on X. Most websites recommend documenting what has happened with screenshots where possible, and then reporting the individual images/posts to the site immediately so they can take swift action.
Because of the extreme and distressing nature of revenge porn, not to mention the risks of CSA (child sexual abuse) material, most major websites do treat these reports as a high priority. However, even with swift action from websites and law enforcement, these incidents can and do still cause significant distress, and you may wish to seek other forms of support such as counselling or therapy. There are many professionals who specialise in helping people recover from trauma after harassment and abuse, as well as charities dedicated to giving support to those who have been harmed in this way.
The laws on revenge porn are varied, but the good news for all of us is that in recent years, governments across the world have recognised the need for robust laws to tackle online intimate image abuse, and the support available from websites to have it taken down and professionals to guide victims through the reporting process and out the other side is increasing. If you, or a friend or loved one, find yourself a victim of revenge porn, you are not alone.