Revenge Porn Laws in Connecticut (2026): Your Rights and What to Do

Is Revenge Porn Illegal in Connecticut?

Yes. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189c makes it a crime to intentionally disseminate, by electronic or other means, a photograph, film, videotape or other recorded image showing the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast of another identifiable person, or that person engaged in sexual conduct, without their consent.

The statute applies where the actor knows the depicted person did not consent to the dissemination and knows, or reasonably should know, the image was taken or created under circumstances where the person had a reasonable expectation of privacy. A single unwanted share to one other person can be enough to trigger liability.

Connecticut also separately criminalizes disseminating a synthetically created intimate image, following a 2025 amendment, which closed the gap for AI-generated and manipulated content.

Penalties for Sharing Intimate Images in Connecticut

A first, non-aggravated offense under § 53a-189c is generally a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Where aggravating circumstances apply, such as a repeat offense under the same section, the charge can rise to a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Related Connecticut offenses often come into play alongside a revenge-porn charge, including harassment, stalking, breach of the peace, and extortion where someone demands money, sex or further images in exchange for not posting the material.

Where the intimate images depict a minor, Connecticut's child pornography and sexual exploitation statutes apply instead, and carry substantially harsher felony penalties.

Can I Sue Someone in Connecticut?

For real, non-synthetic images, Connecticut does not yet have a dedicated nonconsensual-pornography civil statute; a depicted person would typically need to rely on general tort theories such as invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or breach of a written agreement that the images would stay private.

Public Act 26-55 changes the picture for synthetic content: effective 1 October 2026, it creates a specific civil action for a person harmed by the unlawful dissemination of a synthetically created intimate image, allowing recovery of damages and giving the Attorney General independent enforcement authority.

Where images were shared in breach of a written agreement between the two of you, that agreement is useful evidence that there was no consent to share, and a contract claim may also be available. Speak to a Connecticut attorney promptly given the general two-year tort limitation period.

Does Connecticut Cover Deepfakes and AI Images?

Yes. Connecticut's 2025 amendment (Public Act 25-168) made it a crime to knowingly disseminate a synthetically created intimate image of an identifiable person without consent, and Public Act 26-55 built on that by creating a civil action and Attorney General enforcement power for the same conduct, effective 1 October 2026.

The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act separately requires covered platforms to remove reported nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated or digitally altered images, within 48 hours of a valid takedown request, regardless of which state law applies.

What to Do Right Now If Your Images Were Shared in Connecticut

1. 1

   Preserve the Evidence Before Reporting It

   Save screenshots showing the post, the account name, the full URL, and the date and time. Keep original messages and files, and store copies somewhere the other person cannot reach. Do not rely on a post staying online.

2. 2

   Use the Platform's Intimate-Image Report

   Choose the nonconsensual intimate imagery or sexual-content reporting route rather than a general complaint. Keep confirmation emails and case numbers. Covered platforms also have federal notice-and-removal duties for valid reports.

3. 3

   Use StopNCII.org to Limit Re-Uploads

   For adult images, StopNCII creates a digital fingerprint on your own device and shares the hash, not the image, with participating platforms. If the image was taken while you were under 18, use NCMEC's Take It Down service instead.

4. 4

   Report It in Connecticut

   Contact your local police department and refer to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189c, mentioning the synthetic-image amendment if the content was AI-generated. Flag any threats, stalking or extortion, because separate offenses may apply.

5. 5

   Get Advice About the Civil Claim

   Ask a Connecticut attorney about the new civil action for synthetically created intimate images under Public Act 26-55, general privacy and emotional-distress claims for real images, and breach of any written agreement.

Connecticut: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189c — Unlawful dissemination of an intimate image
• Connecticut Public Act 26-55 (2026) — Civil action for synthetically created intimate images
• Connecticut Attorney General

Keep Reading

• All US states →
• Why a written agreement helps before anything is shared →
• The safest way to send intimate photos →