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

What Vermont Law Says

Vermont addresses revenge porn under 13 Vermont Statutes Annotated Section 2606, titled "Disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent." The basic offense is a misdemeanor.

The offense carries penalties of up to 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both. A person who discloses the image with the intent of financial profit faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Vermont's law provides meaningful penalties for NCII distribution and raises them when the disclosure is for profit.

Review the statute at the Vermont Legislature website.

What Counts as Revenge Porn in Vermont

Vermont's statute defines the offense through these elements. The content must be a visual image of an identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual conduct. The offender knowingly disclosed the image. The disclosure was without the consent of the depicted person. The offender acted with the intent to harm, harass, or intimidate the depicted person. The disclosure would cause a reasonable person to suffer harm. A visual image includes one created or altered by digitization. The law has exceptions, including voluntary nudity or sexual conduct in public or commercial settings or where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.

The law covers all distribution methods, including platforms like Instagram and Reddit, websites, messaging services, and email. Vermont's intent requirement means prosecutors must prove a specific malicious purpose behind the distribution.

How to Report

Vermont victims should take these steps:

  1. Preserve all evidence — Screenshot images, save URLs, document account information, and keep all communications.
  2. File a police report — Contact your local police department, county sheriff, or the Vermont State Police. Reference 13 VSA 2606.
  3. Contact the state's attorney — Each county has a state's attorney who handles criminal prosecutions.
  4. Report to the FBI — File with the FBI IC3 for internet-based distribution.
  5. Seek a relief from abuse order — Vermont courts can issue protective orders addressing harassment and threatening behavior.

Limitations of Criminal Law

Vermont's intent requirement creates a prosecutorial hurdle. Proving that the offender acted with specific intent to harm or harass requires evidence of their state of mind, which can be challenging. Vermont's small and rural population means limited law enforcement resources for specialized digital crime investigation.

The criminal process takes time, and images remain accessible online throughout. A conviction does not trigger automatic content removal from platforms. Cross-jurisdictional challenges arise with internet-based distribution.

Removing the Content

Content removal should proceed immediately and independently.

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.

StopNCII.org allows victims to create digital hashes that participating platforms use to block matching content.

IntimaShield provides professional NCII removal services covering removal requests across platforms and search engine de-indexing requests. Optional Shield monitoring is a separate subscription for twice-weekly name-and-handle searches.

See also: Maine's revenge porn law for a neighboring New England comparison.

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