By Hillary Nappi, Partner at AWK Attorneys
White Plains, NY—If someone shared your intimate images or videos without your consent, you may be entitled to real compensation under New York law — not just an apology, and not just a takedown request that platforms ignore for weeks.
New York's revenge porn statute, Civil Rights Law § 52-b, gives victims a direct path to sue the person who shared their images, and even a way to force websites to remove that content permanently. At AWK Survivor Advocate Attorneys, we've built our practice around helping clients use this law to its full effect. Here's what we look for when we evaluate a case — and what makes the difference between a claim that struggles and one that succeeds.
What Is New York's Revenge Porn Law?
Passed in 2019, § 52-b lets any person depicted in an intimate image sue someone who disseminated or published it — or even just threatened to — for the purpose of harassing, annoying, or alarming them. Crucially, it doesn't matter if you originally consented to the image being taken. What matters is that you didn't consent to it being shared, and that you reasonably expected it to stay private.
The law also doesn't require a criminal conviction, or even a police report, before you can file a civil claim. You can pursue justice on your own timeline, in civil court, whether or not prosecutors ever get involved.
5 Key Elements of a Strong Revenge Porn Case
Every situation is different, but the cases that resolve most favorably tend to share a few features:
Clear Proof Someone Shared Your Image
Screenshots, links, messages, or platform records showing the image was posted or sent to others make all the difference. If we can show exactly what was shared, when, and by whom, we're in a much stronger position.
Identifying Anonymous Perpetrators
Whether it's an ex-partner, a former friend, or someone hiding behind an anonymous account, we have investigative tools and legal processes — including subpoenas to platforms and internet service providers — to identify who's responsible.
Proving Intent to Harm or Harass
Texts, DMs, or social media activity showing the person meant to embarrass, harass, or hurt you strengthen a claim significantly. Angry messages sent around the same time images were posted, for example, can be powerful evidence.
Why Timing Matters in NY Revenge Porn Cases
New York gives you three years from the date the image was shared, or one year from when you discovered it — whichever is later. Acting sooner preserves evidence and strengthens your position.
What Compensation Can You Recover in NY?
A successful § 52-b claim can result in:
- Compensatory damages for emotional distress, reputational harm, and lost income
- Punitive damages, meant to punish especially malicious conduct
- Injunctive relief, including court orders requiring websites to permanently remove the images
- Attorney's fees and costs
That last remedy — court-ordered removal — is often the piece clients care about most. Money matters, but getting the images off the internet matters more. New York's law lets courts direct removal from any website viewable in the state, giving victims real leverage even against platforms with no other connection to New York.
Court‑Ordered Removal: Getting Images Off the Internet
We know that pursuing a case like this means revisiting one of the worst experiences of your life, sometimes more than once. Our approach is built around minimizing that burden: we handle communications with platforms, manage the investigation into who's responsible, and pursue every available remedy so you don't have to relive the details more than necessary.
If someone has shared your intimate images without permission, or is threatening to, don't wait to find out what your options are. Evidence disappears, accounts get deleted, and the window to act only gets narrower.
How AWK Helps Revenge Porn Survivors
At AWK Survivor Advocate Attorneys, we understand the profound violation of having your intimate images shared without consent. We help survivors of image-based abuse navigate New York's revenge porn statute, pursue compensation for emotional distress and reputational harm, and obtain court orders to permanently remove images from websites. Our team handles communications with platforms, investigates anonymous perpetrators, and pursues every available remedy so you don't have to relive the details more than necessary. If someone has shared your intimate images without permission, or is threatening to, you deserve justice. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.