Revenge Porn Laws in Pennsylvania: What Victims Need to Know in 2026

Pennsylvania criminalized non-consensual pornography in 2014, giving victims legal recourse through both criminal and civil channels. If you are a victim in Pennsylvania, this guide explains the law and your options for fighting back.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

Pennsylvania Title 18 Section 3131, the Unlawful Dissemination of Intimate Image statute, makes it a crime to disseminate, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another, a visual depiction of a current or former sexual or intimate partner who is nude or engaged in sexual conduct. A 2024 amendment (Act 125) added artificially generated sexual depictions of any individual, such as AI-created images. Consent of the person depicted is a defense. When the person depicted is an adult, the offense is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. When the person depicted is a minor, it is a first-degree misdemeanor, carrying up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A separate statute, 42 Pa.C.S. Section 8316.1, gives victims a civil action for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, up to three times actual damages at the court's discretion, attorney fees and court costs, and other relief the court finds proper.

What Counts as Revenge Porn in Pennsylvania

Under Pennsylvania law, the image can be a photograph, video, or other visual depiction of a current or former sexual or intimate partner who is nude or engaged in sexual conduct, or an artificially generated sexual depiction of any individual. Consent of the person depicted is a defense, and the dissemination must be done with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person. The law applies to any form of dissemination, including online posting, texting, emailing, or distributing physical copies.

How to Report

Pennsylvania victims should take systematic steps to build their case. Start by preserving all evidence: screenshot every instance of the image online, noting the URL, date, and any accompanying text or identifying information. File a police report with your local municipal police or state police barracks, referencing 18 Pa.C.S. Section 3131. Contact the county District Attorney's office to discuss the possibility of criminal prosecution. Consult with a private attorney about civil remedies, including damages and injunctive relief. If the images appear online, removal requests can run at the same time as the criminal process. Save the exact links; we file those requests for you as your authorized representative.

Limitations of Criminal Law

Pennsylvania's intent requirement, that the dissemination must be done with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm, can create challenges for prosecutors. The perpetrator may argue their motivation was something other than harassment. Jurisdictional issues are common, especially when images are posted by individuals in other states or hosted on foreign servers. Criminal cases move slowly through the court system, often taking many months. During this time, intimate images can be copied and shared across dozens of sites. Even a successful prosecution resulting in a conviction and prison time does not remove a single image from the internet.

Removing the Content

Content removal and a criminal or civil case address different parts of the problem. The TAKE IT DOWN Act requires covered platforms to remove qualifying intimate imagery and make reasonable efforts to remove known identical copies within 48 hours of a valid request. The platform and request must meet the law's requirements. See FTC guidance; this is not a universal service turnaround guarantee. Eligible adults can use StopNCII themselves for participating-platform matching. For managed help with known links, review your removal scope.