Legal policy and responses to nonconsensual pornography in the U.S.

What is it about?

Victims of nonconsensual pornography often can’t seek justice because laws haven't been updated to keep pace with technology-facilitated violence. This research reveals how U.S. policies are limited in their ability to address when people share intimate photos or videos of others without their consent. It shows that laws across states differ a lot in how they describe and punish nonconsensual pornography. Some define it as a privacy violation, others as voyeurism, and penalties range from misdemeanors to felonies. Many laws require proof that victims were harmed, that images were taken secretly, or that the person sharing them intended to hurt someone. These variations make it hard to prosecute offenders. Criminal justice isn’t keeping up with online technology, and victims often can’t find legal protection or justice. The study highlights the need for laws that clearly recognize this behavior as a form of sexual violence and better reflect how technology enables it.

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Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Current laws on nonconsensual pornography are full of loopholes and limitations that make prosecution of offenders difficult. Reforms are needed to fix these problems and the variations in policies across states to improve how the legal system handles these cases.