Revenge Porn Laws in Maine (2026): Your Rights and What to Do
Maine criminalizes unauthorized dissemination of private images as a Class D crime that escalates to a Class C felony-level offense for repeat conduct, and provides a separate civil right of action for damages. A 2025 amendment expressly extended the law to AI-generated and digitally altered images.
Maine at a Glance
- Statute
- Unauthorized Dissemination of Certain Private Images — 17-A M.R.S. § 511-A
- Criminal classification
- Class D crime for a first offense; Class C crime for a second or subsequent offense
- Maximum penalty
- Up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine for a Class D crime; up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for a Class C crime
- Can you sue?
- Yes — 14 M.R.S. § 1655 (private right of action for nonconsensual dissemination of private images)
- Time limit to sue
- Generally six years for Maine civil actions under 14 M.R.S. § 752, unless a shorter period applies
- Deepfakes / AI images
- Covered
Is Revenge Porn Illegal in Maine?
Yes. 17-A M.R.S. § 511-A makes it a crime to intentionally or knowingly disseminate, display or publish an image of an identifiable person in a state of nudity or engaged in a sexual act or sexual contact, without a public or newsworthy purpose, when the person has not consented and the discloser acted with intent to harass, torment or threaten the depicted person or another person.
'State of nudity' and 'sexual act' are specifically defined and mirror Maine's sexual offense definitions, covering exposed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast below the areola, as well as actual or simulated sexual acts.
The law exempts lawful medical practices, images of voluntary exposure in public or commercial settings, and interactive computer services with respect to content provided by other users.
Penalties for Sharing Intimate Images in Maine
A first violation of § 511-A is a Class D crime, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
A second or subsequent violation is a Class C crime, carrying up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Related Maine offenses such as stalking, criminal threatening, and violation of a protection order may apply where the sharing was paired with ongoing harassment.
Where a minor is depicted, Maine's sexual exploitation of a minor and dissemination of sexually explicit material of minors statutes apply instead and carry substantially harsher penalties.
Can I Sue Someone in Maine?
Yes. Maine law provides a private civil right of action under 14 M.R.S. § 1655 for a person whose private image was disseminated without consent, allowing you to seek damages and injunctive relief directly from the person who shared it.
This civil claim does not depend on a criminal conviction and can be pursued on its own. Where the images were shared in breach of a written agreement between you and the other person, that agreement is useful evidence there was no consent to share it, supporting a related contract claim.
Maine's general civil limitation period is six years under 14 M.R.S. § 752 for most actions not otherwise specifically limited, though you should confirm the applicable deadline for this specific claim with a Maine attorney.
Does Maine Cover Deepfakes and AI Images?
Yes. A 2025 amendment to § 511-A broadened the definition of a covered image to include material that 'has been created or modified' so that it appears to show the depicted person in a state of nudity or engaged in a sexual act, which expressly captures AI-generated and digitally altered fakes.
This means a fabricated nude or sexual image of an identifiable Maine resident is treated the same as a genuine photograph under both the criminal offense and the related civil claim. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act also requires covered platforms to remove reported nonconsensual intimate images, including deepfakes, within 48 hours of a valid request.
What to Do Right Now If Your Images Were Shared in Maine
- 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
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
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
Report It in Maine
Contact your local police department or the Maine State Police and refer to 17-A M.R.S. § 511-A, mentioning the 2025 amendment if the image was AI-generated. Flag any threats or stalking, because separate offenses may apply.
- 5
Get Advice About the Civil Claim
Ask a Maine attorney about the civil right of action under 14 M.R.S. § 1655 and about breach of any written agreement not to share the images.
Be Safer With a Written NDA as Evidence
Most of Maine's law is about what happens after the damage is done. The one thing you can do beforehand is put the boundary in writing. A Discreetly agreement is signed by both people, timestamped, and identity-verifiable, and it states plainly that neither person has consent to share, publish or show the material to anyone else.
Where the law turns on the absence of consent to share, a signed agreement may provide useful documentary evidence that there was no consent to share. It cannot prevent a breach or guarantee a legal outcome, but it can make the agreed boundary clearer than relying only on informal messages. Creating one is free.
Create a free agreementMaine: Frequently Asked Questions
Is revenge porn a felony in Maine?
Does Maine law cover AI deepfake nudes?
Can I sue someone in Maine for sharing intimate images?
Do I have to prove they wanted to hurt me?
What if the platform will not take the image down?
Sources
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This page provides general information about Maine law and is not legal advice. Laws change and outcomes depend on the facts. For advice on your situation, speak to a qualified attorney licensed in Maine. Last reviewed August 2026.