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

Is Revenge Porn Illegal in Kentucky?

Yes. KRS § 531.120 makes it a crime to intentionally distribute to any third party private erotic matter depicting an identifiable person without that person's written consent, done with intent to profit, harm, harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce them, where disclosure would cause a reasonable person to suffer harm.

'Private erotic matter' covers images or recordings showing intimate parts or sexual conduct that were understood between the parties to be private. Kentucky's version requires the absence of written consent, so even an oral understanding not to share is not itself a defense for the person who shares.

The statute exempts certain law enforcement, legal and medical disclosures, and does not apply to lawful commercial pornography distributed with consent.

Penalties for Sharing Intimate Images in Kentucky

A first violation of KRS § 531.120 is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in the county jail and a fine of up to $500.

A second or subsequent violation is a Class D felony, carrying one to five years in prison. Related charges such as harassing communications, stalking, or extortion can apply where the sharing was paired with threats or repeated contact.

Where the person depicted is a minor, Kentucky's more serious child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor offenses apply instead.

Can I Sue Someone in Kentucky?

Kentucky does not have a broad, dedicated tort statute against the person who shared the image, but KRS § 411.215 lets you sue a website, online service, application, or mobile application that fails to remove a sexually explicit image after you request its removal, regardless of whether the original discloser is ever identified or convicted.

Outside that specific statute, common-law claims such as invasion of privacy or intentional infliction of emotional distress may be available against the person who shared the images, and a written agreement not to share can be used as evidence that there was no consent to share, supporting a related breach-of-contract claim.

KRS § 411.215 actions must generally be brought within a relatively short window, so contact a Kentucky attorney as soon as possible after a platform refuses to remove the material.

Does Kentucky Cover Deepfakes and AI Images?

This is unclear. KRS § 531.120 is framed around real 'private erotic matter,' and Kentucky does not yet have an enacted, dedicated criminal statute for purely AI-generated or digitally fabricated intimate images of adults, although lawmakers have introduced bills addressing deepfakes.

Even without a specific state deepfake law, the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act requires covered platforms to remove reported nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated fakes, within 48 hours of a valid request, giving victims a fast removal path regardless of the gap in Kentucky's own statute.

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

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.

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 Kentucky

   Contact your local police department or sheriff's office and refer to KRS § 531.120. Flag any threats, extortion or stalking, because separate and more serious offenses may apply.

5. 5

   Get Advice About the Civil Claim

   Ask a Kentucky attorney about a takedown claim under KRS § 411.215 if a site refuses to remove the image, and about breach of any written agreement. Act quickly given the short statutory deadline.

Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• KRS § 531.120 — Distribution of Sexually Explicit Images Without Consent
• KRS § 411.215 — Action for Failure to Remove a Sexually Explicit Image
• Kentucky Attorney General

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