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

Vermont makes disclosing sexually explicit images without consent a crime and, unusually, writes a civil cause of action directly into the same statute. Coverage of AI-generated deepfakes is less settled, so victims should get state-specific advice quickly.

Vermont at a Glance

Statute: Disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent — 13 V.S.A. § 2606
Criminal classification: Misdemeanor; felony for a second or subsequent offense or aggravating circumstances
Maximum penalty: Up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine for a first offense; up to five years and a $10,000 fine for a repeat or aggravated offense
Can you sue?: Yes — 13 V.S.A. § 2606(g) (civil cause of action for disclosure of sexually explicit images without consent)
Time limit to sue: Generally within three years under Vermont's general personal-injury limitation period, 12 V.S.A. § 512
Deepfakes / AI images: Partly covered

Is Revenge Porn Illegal in Vermont?

Yes. 13 V.S.A. § 2606 makes it a crime to knowingly disclose a sexually explicit image of an identifiable person without their consent, knowing or having reason to know the person did not consent, where the disclosure is intended to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or where the discloser recklessly disregards a risk of harm.

A sexually explicit image includes depictions of nudity or sexual conduct captured or shared in circumstances where the person had a reasonable expectation that it would remain private.

The Vermont Supreme Court has already upheld the statute against a First Amendment challenge in State v. VanBuren, confirming it validly targets non-expressive harm caused by nonconsensual disclosure.

Penalties for Sharing Intimate Images in Vermont

A first offense under § 2606 is a misdemeanor, carrying up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

A second or subsequent offense, or one involving specified aggravating factors, is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Related Vermont offenses can apply too, including voyeurism under § 2605 for images captured secretly, stalking, and criminal threatening, particularly where someone threatens to release images unless paid or given further images.

Can I Sue Someone in Vermont?

Yes. Unusually, Vermont writes the civil remedy directly into § 2606 itself, letting a person whose image was disclosed without consent sue the discloser for damages, including punitive damages in appropriate cases, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

This civil claim can be brought whether or not the discloser is ever criminally charged or convicted, which matters where a prosecutor declines to pursue the case.

Where a written agreement addressed confidentiality of intimate images between you, breach of that agreement is evidence there was no consent to disclose it, and can support an additional claim alongside the statutory one.

Does Vermont Cover Deepfakes and AI Images?

Unclear. Vermont's statute focuses on disclosure of an actual sexually explicit image of the person, and it is not yet settled how it applies to an AI-generated or digitally altered image that only appears to depict someone. Speak to a Vermont attorney about how your specific facts might be charged.

Regardless of state law, the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act requires covered platforms to remove reported nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated forgeries, within 48 hours of a valid request from the depicted person.

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

1
Preserve the Evidence Before Reporting It
Screenshot the image, the account, the URL, and the date and time before reporting so you retain proof even if the post disappears. Keep original files somewhere private.
2
Use the Platform's Intimate-Image Report
Report through the platform's dedicated nonconsensual intimate imagery channel and keep any confirmation or case numbers issued.
3
Use StopNCII.org to Limit Re-Uploads
StopNCII.org hashes the image on your own device so participating platforms can block re-uploads without seeing the image itself. If you were under 18 in the image, use NCMEC's Take It Down service instead.
4
Report It in Vermont
Contact your local police department or the Vermont State Police and cite 13 V.S.A. § 2606. Mention any threats, extortion, or secret recording, which may support additional charges under §§ 2605 or the stalking statute.
5
Get Advice About the Civil Claim
Talk to a Vermont attorney about suing directly under § 2606's civil provision, and about any written agreement showing there was no consent to disclose the images.

Be Safer With a Written NDA as Evidence

Most of Vermont'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 agreement

Vermont: Frequently Asked Questions

Is revenge porn a felony in Vermont?

A first offense is a misdemeanor with up to two years in prison. A second offense, or one with aggravating factors, is a felony carrying up to five years.

Does Vermont law cover AI deepfake nudes?

It is unclear. The statute is written around disclosure of an actual sexually explicit image, and coverage of purely AI-generated fakes has not been clearly settled by the legislature or courts.

Can I sue someone in Vermont for sharing intimate images?

Yes. Section 2606 itself creates a civil cause of action for damages and attorney's fees, separate from any criminal case.

Do I have to prove they wanted to hurt me?

The statute requires intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or reckless disregard of a risk of harm, so some level of culpable intent or recklessness is required.

What if the image was recorded without my knowledge?

Vermont's voyeurism statute, § 2605, can apply to the secret recording itself, separately from any charge for later disclosing the image.

Sources

Keep Reading

This page provides general information about Vermont 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 Vermont. Last reviewed August 2026.