Revenge Porn Laws in Pennsylvania (2026): Your Rights and What to Do
Pennsylvania criminalizes sharing an intimate image of a current or former sexual or intimate partner without consent, and the same statute now reaches realistic AI-generated sexual depictions. The offense requires an intent to harass, annoy or alarm, and it is graded as a misdemeanor rather than a felony. Pennsylvania also gives victims a dedicated civil claim with a guaranteed minimum award, treble damages in the court's discretion, and attorney fees.
Pennsylvania at a Glance
- Statute
- Unlawful dissemination of intimate image — 18 Pa.C.S. § 3131
- Criminal classification
- Misdemeanor of the second degree; misdemeanor of the first degree when the person depicted is a minor
- Maximum penalty
- Up to 2 years and a $5,000 fine when the person depicted is an adult; up to 5 years and a $10,000 fine when the person depicted is a minor
- Can you sue?
- Yes — 42 Pa.C.S. § 8316.1
- Time limit to sue
- Generally two years for personal-injury style claims under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524
- Deepfakes / AI images
- Covered
Is Revenge Porn Illegal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Under 18 Pa.C.S. section 3131, a person commits unlawful dissemination of intimate image if, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another, they disseminate a visual depiction of a current or former sexual or intimate partner in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct. A second branch of the offense covers disseminating an artificially generated sexual depiction of an individual.
Consent of the person depicted is a statutory defense, which is why the terms agreed before images are shared matter so much. Pennsylvania can prosecute where either the victim or the offender is located in the Commonwealth, and the Attorney General has concurrent authority where a series of violations crosses county or state lines.
Penalties for Sharing Intimate Images in Pennsylvania
Where the person depicted is an adult, the offense is a misdemeanor of the second degree, carrying up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Where the person depicted is a minor, it is a misdemeanor of the first degree, carrying up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000. The same grading applies to artificially generated sexual depictions.
Images of anyone under 18 can also fall under far more serious child sexual abuse material offenses, and using images to demand money, sex or contact can support separate extortion, stalking or harassment charges. The sentence in any case depends on the conduct, the prior record and the facts.
Can I Sue in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Section 8316.1 of Title 42 creates a civil cause of action based on unlawful dissemination of intimate image. A court may award actual damages arising from the incident or $500, whichever is greater, and may in its discretion award up to three times the actual damages, but never less than $500. Reasonable attorney fees, court costs and other relief the court considers proper are also available.
The statute directs courts to consider that dissemination of an intimate image may cause long-term or permanent injury. Restitution under 18 Pa.C.S. section 1106 is preserved. Claims of this kind are generally treated as two-year claims under 42 Pa.C.S. section 5524, so a Pennsylvania attorney should confirm the deadline early.
Does Pennsylvania Law Cover Deepfakes and AI Images?
Yes. Section 3131 defines an artificially generated sexual depiction as a visual depiction that appears to authentically show an individual nude or engaged in sexual conduct that did not occur in reality, where production depended substantially on technical means such as artificial intelligence or photo-editing software.
That means a fabricated image is treated as an offense in its own right, with the same grading as a real image. Federal law can also apply to qualifying digital forgeries and requires covered platforms to operate a notice-and-removal process.
What to Do Right Now If Your Images Were Shared in Pennsylvania
- 1
Preserve the Evidence Before Reporting It
Save screenshots showing the post, account name, full URL, date and time. Keep original messages and files, and store copies somewhere the other person cannot access. Do not rely on a post remaining online.
- 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 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 the Conduct in Pennsylvania
Contact local police or the relevant state victim-support service and refer to 18 Pa.C.S. § 3131. If threats, stalking, extortion, hacking, or images of a minor are involved, say so because separate and more serious offenses may apply.
- 5
Get Advice About Civil Protection
Pennsylvania has a dedicated NCII civil claim under 42 Pa.C.S. section 8316.1 with minimum damages of $500, possible treble damages and attorney fees. Ask a Pennsylvania attorney promptly, because the general deadline is usually two years.
Be Safer With a Written NDA as Evidence
Most of Pennsylvania'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 agreementPennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
Is revenge porn illegal in Pennsylvania?
What is the penalty for revenge porn in Pennsylvania?
Can I sue someone in Pennsylvania for sharing my intimate images?
Does Pennsylvania law cover AI deepfake nudes?
Does consent matter under Pennsylvania law?
Sources
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This page provides general information about Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. Last reviewed August 2026.