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EspañolIs it a crime for someone to take or record intimate video or images of me without my knowledge or consent?
Taking nude or semi-nude videos or photographs of you without you consent is usually a criminal act if the images are taken in a place where you can reasonably expect to have privacy. For example, if someone places a hidden camera in your bathroom or bedroom and captures you, this is almost always illegal. Now, let’s say you are on a nude beach or you are doing sexual acts in a public park, it may not be illegal to take photos or videos because you likely cannot expect to have privacy in these types of public places. The specific laws in your state will say what is legal and what is illegal.
In some states, the laws about sharing intimate images may also specifically address taking images without consent, making that a more serious crime, for example. Or there might be another crime that covers this behavior, such as violation of privacy, invasion of privacy, voyeurism, or unlawful surveillance. You can look for the actual crimes in your state on our Crimes page by entering your state in the drop-down menu.
If someone shares my intimate images, is that a crime? What is the crime commonly called?
Many states have laws about sharing sexual or intimate images. These laws generally prohibit anyone from taking or distributing intimate photos or videos without the consent of the person shown. They may also prohibit threatening to do so. Distributing an image could happen by posting it on a website or app. It could also include other sharing, like sending it to others over text message or email, or printing out the pictures and mailing them to others.
Crime names and exact definitions vary by state but may be something similar to unlawful dissemination of intimate images or unlawful disclosure of private images. In some states, a threat to share them can be a crime that comes under extortion or blackmail.
If the images were taken without your consent or without your knowledge, laws against unlawful surveillance or invasion of privacy may be broken as well. Stealing images from your computer may break a data theft or computer crime law in your state. You can look for the actual crimes in your state on our Crimes page by entering your state in the drop-down menu.
Can I request a restraining order if the abuser has posted an intimate image of me online?
It could be possible that the distribution of intimate images, or the threat to do so, is a legal reason that a judge could issue a restraining order. If it’s not specifically listed in the law, it’s possible it might be considered harassment, which many states include as a reason for getting an order.
If you qualify for a restraining order, you can specifically ask for the order to include a term that states that the abuser cannot post any images of you online. You could also request the judge to order the abuser to remove any current images. For information about filing for a restraining order in your state, and to see the legal reasons (grounds) for which an order can be granted, please see our Restraining Orders page.
