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

What Washington Law Says

Washington State addresses revenge porn under Revised Code of Washington Section 9A.86.010, titled "Disclosing intimate images." The law classifies a first offense as a gross misdemeanor. A defendant with a prior conviction under this section or RCW 9A.86.030 commits a class C felony, punishable by up to 5 years and a $10,000 fine.

A gross misdemeanor in Washington carries penalties of up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $5,000. Washington also provides a civil cause of action under chapter 7.110 RCW, the Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act, which replaced RCW 4.24.795 in 2023. Victims can recover damages or statutory damages of up to $10,000 per defendant, along with attorney's fees and injunctive relief. Washington was one of the early adopters of revenge porn legislation and continues to provide meaningful protections for victims of NCII distribution.

Review the statute at the Washington Legislature website.

What Counts as Revenge Porn in Washington

Washington's statute defines the offense through these elements. The content must be an intimate image depicting a person who is identifiable and shown in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual activity. The offender obtained the image under circumstances in which a reasonable person would know or understand that it was to remain private. The offender knowingly disclosed the image. The disclosure was without the consent of the depicted person. The offender knew or should have known that the person had not consented. The offender also knew or reasonably should have known that the disclosure would cause harm to the depicted person.

Washington's law does not require intent to harm. It is enough that the offender knew or reasonably should have known the disclosure would cause harm. A separate offense, RCW 9A.86.030, covers disclosing fabricated intimate images. The law covers distribution through all media, including social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, websites, messaging apps, and email. The "should have known" standard broadens the scope of liability.

How to Report

Washington victims should follow these steps:

  1. Document all evidence — Screenshot images, save URLs, record account information, and preserve all communications.
  2. File a police report — Contact your local police department, county sheriff, or the Washington State Patrol. Seattle Police, Tacoma Police, and other major departments handle digital crimes. Reference RCW 9A.86.010.
  3. Contact the prosecuting attorney — Each county has an elected prosecuting attorney who handles criminal cases.
  4. Report to the FBI — File with the FBI IC3 for internet-based distribution.
  5. Pursue civil remedies — Consult an attorney about filing a civil lawsuit under chapter 7.110 RCW for damages and injunctive relief.
  6. Seek a sexual assault protection order — Washington courts can issue protective orders that address the distribution of intimate images.

Limitations of Criminal Law

Washington's gross misdemeanor classification for a first offense provides meaningful penalties, and a repeat offense is a class C felony. The criminal process takes time, and images remain online throughout. Washington's tech-savvy population means cases may involve sophisticated digital distribution that requires advanced forensic investigation.

A conviction does not automatically remove content from platforms or search engines. Cross-jurisdictional challenges arise frequently, particularly given Washington's proximity to the Canadian border and its role as a major tech hub where many platform companies are headquartered. However, Washington's strong civil remedy provides an effective additional avenue for victims, particularly for obtaining injunctive relief.

Removing the Content

Content removal must be pursued urgently alongside legal proceedings.

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 automatically block intimate images from being shared.

IntimaShield provides professional NCII removal services managing multi-platform takedowns and search engine de-indexing. Optional Shield monitoring is a separate subscription for twice-weekly name-and-handle searches.

See also: Oregon's revenge porn law for a Pacific Northwest comparison.

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