What Are Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) and What Can I Do About Them?

Unfortunately, it has become common for people to post intimate photos of a partner or ex-partner on the internet without permission. This used to be called revenge porn. Today, it is called the non-consensual distribution or taking of intimate images. Non-consensual distribution or taking of intimate images (NCII) can be devastating to victims. It can even interfere with the victim’s job, family life, or mental health. Fortunately, in New Jersey there are laws to protect victims of NCII. Below, you will find more information about what to do if you are a victim and how to protect yourself.

I know my ex-partner has intimate photos of me saved on one or more of their devices. How can I stop them from putting those photos online?

In New Jersey, sharing or threatening to share intimate photos of someone without their permission is illegal. This applies to both digital and printed photos. If someone has shared or threatened to share intimate photos of you without your permission, you may be able to get a restraining order against them. To be eligible for a restraining order, you must have one of the following relationships with the person who posted or threatened to post your photos (the defendant):

• You are or were married, or
• You have a child or are expecting a child together, or
• You are currently dating or previously dated the defendant, or
• You are over 18 and have lived with the defendant at some point.

In all of the above relationships, the defendant has to be at least 18.

If you are granted a temporary or final restraining order, the court can order the defendant to stop posting photos of you online or sharing them with other people and to take down existing photos. To learn more about getting a restraining order in New Jersey, visit How to Get a Restraining Order.

What if I do not have one of the above relationships to the person sharing or threatening to share photos of me online?

The relationships in the section above apply to restraining orders. However, there may be times when someone is sharing or threatening to share photos of you, and you do not have a relationship with them. For example, your ex-partner may have shared intimate photos of you with their friend, and now that friend is distributing those photos of you on the internet. You might not even know the person.

You can still take actions to protect yourself. The sharing of these photos is a crime called cyber-harassment, which you can either report to the police as a crime, or report to the family court as the basis of a protective order. A protective order is similar to a restraining order, but different in that a protective order covers victims who do not have any relationship to the defendant. The defendant must have committed certain sexual offenses, stalking, or cyber-harassment to qualify. The cyber-harassment law has three sections. The first is about threatening to harm or injure someone or their property through the internet. The second is about the non-consensual distribution of intimate images through the internet. The third is about threatening to commit a crime against a person or a person’s property through the internet. In a situation like this, you might be eligible for a protective order under New Jersey law. You can read this law at N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1. To learn more about getting a protective order in New Jersey, visit Victim’s Assistance and Survivor Protection Act (VASPA)—Protection for Victims.

Can the person who posted or threatened to post my photos be punished? Is it a crime?

Yes. In New Jersey, taking or sharing intimate images of a person’s private parts and/or sexual acts without the person’s permission is an illegal invasion of privacy, harassment, and cyber-harassment. This means anyone who takes intimate photos or videos of you without your permission has committed a crime. It also means nobody can share intimate images without your permission, even if you gave somebody permission to take them or took or shared them yourself.

You can always seek to press charges with the police, regardless of your relationship to the person who has your photos. Also, you can seek to press charges even if you do not have proof that your ex-partner is the person who posted your photo (for example, you may know your partner is the only person you shared photos with but they may have posted them online with an anonymous username). If the prosecutor (lawyer who handles criminal cases for the government) decides your case should proceed, they or the police can request a subpoena (court order to provide information). The subpoena would require the internet service provider that hosts the website to provide information about the person who posted the photo. If found guilty, the person could be ordered to pay a fine up to $30,000 and sentenced to three to five years in prison.

You can find the law that protects you from invasion of privacy at Title 2C, Chapter 14, sub-section 9 of the New Jersey Criminal Code. The law on harassment can be found at N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4. The law on cyber-harassment can be found at N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1 You should know that cyber-harassment is specifically about electronic threats related to NCII. It is not just about being harassed through the internet.

When I read about NCII, I see “copyright ” mentioned a lot. What is a copyright and what does it have to do with NCII?

A copyright is legal proof that you have permission to use and share items like photos, drawings, and other creative materials. The person that takes a photo is the copyright owner. If you took an intimate photo of yourself and sent it to your ex-partner, you are the copyright holder of that photo. However, if your partner took a photo of you, they own the copyright to the photo. So, copyright ownership depends on who took the photo, not who is in the photo. Copyrights are relevant to non-consensual distribution of intimate images because having copyright ownership of your photos makes it easier to have them taken down or removed from the internet.

If you took your photos and you want proof that you are the copyright owner, you can register your photos with the government. To register your photos, visit the United States Copyright Office and select “Register Your Works.” There, you will find more information about how to register your photos. You may not want to register photos that are intimate photos, and you are not required to go through this process in order to later make a claim that you own the copyright. For more information about how to use copyright ownership to have your photos taken down from a site, read below.

I think someone may have posted my photo on several websites. How can I find all the websites where my photo has been posted?

You can find your photo online by doing a reverse image search on Google. Before searching, make sure the photos you want to find online are saved on your computer, a flash drive, or some other place that makes it possible for you to upload photos. To perform a reverse image search, go to Google Images. Click on the small camera icon on the right side of the search box (when you put your cursor on the camera icon, it will say “search by image”). Next, select “upload an image” and select the saved photo file. This will NOT post your photo online; it simply allows Google to search for the image.

After you have performed the search, visit all of the websites where your photo appears. Print a copy of all the pages or write down the exact web address of each location.

I have heard about “hashes” in connection with NCII. What are hashes and how do they relate to NCII?

A hash is a digital fingerprint that can be connected to photos or videos. Hashes are created using algorithms. Every copy of the same photo or video will always have the same hash, and every hash is unique to its own specific photo or video. It is like how a barcode for a specific product at the supermarket is different from similar products, but all of the exact same products share the same barcode.

Hashes are useful because they can prevent your photos or videos from being distributed across the internet. Once a hash is created, that hash is sent to different websites to see if the hash matches any photos or videos on those different websites. If there is a match, the website is notified and the photo or video is removed. The hash continues to check periodically to see if there are new matches. Hashes are also useful because they provide an additional layer of privacy for you. Your photos or videos never have to be uploaded anywhere for hashes to be made, and the websites are only notified if a hash is matched. Hashes can even be used for photos or videos that are made to look like you, but are not real (sometimes called deepfakes).

There are limitations on hash technology. If a photo or video has lots of edits or alterations, your hash may not match what has been uploaded to the internet. Also, hash technology does not cover the entire internet. Currently, hash technology is maintained by Stopncii.org. Stopncii.org has the cooperation of many websites that host photos and videos, but there are many other websites not associated with Stopncii.org.

To see how a hash works, visit StopNCII.org Explainer Video. For additional information on hashes, visit How StopNCII.org Works.

How can I get a website to take down my photos?

In 2025, Congress passed the TAKE IT DOWN (Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks) Act, a law requiring websites to remove intimate photos if someone complains about them. This law makes it illegal for someone to distribute your intimate photos online without your consent, if it causes or is intended to cause harm to you. That harm can be emotional, financial, or reputational. The law also requires covered websites to establish a way you can ask the websites to take down your photos. The websites then have forty-eight hours to take down your photos.

TAKE IT DOWN also gives you the power of the federal government to enforce your requests by allowing you to report the website to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If the covered website does not take down your photos within 48 hours, the FTC can take legal action against the website. To do that, visit Nonconsensual Distribution of Intimate Images: What To Know. The FTC site will then direct you to where you can report the website’s failure to comply with TAKE IT DOWN. The FTC site also provides links to other helpful resources for victims. TAKE IT DOWN not only applies to real photos or videos of you, but also deepfakes.

Unfortunately, TAKE IT DOWN has limitations. The law only applies to “covered websites,” and many of the worst NCII and deepfake websites are not covered. For websites not covered by TAKE IT DOWN, you may have to work harder to take down your photos. Here are some steps you can take to have your photos removed if TAKE IT DOWN does not apply to the website.

If you are NOT the copyright holder, you should take the following steps:

• Visit the website to see if it has a removal policy. Some websites may have an icon or link that tells you how to ask them to remove a photo. Others have a “frequently asked questions” section that explains how to have a photo removed. In some cases, the information may be difficult to find. Sometimes you can find it by clicking the small print on the bottom or top of the website that says “About Us,” “Contact Us,” or “Privacy Policy.” If the website has a search feature, enter the word “contact” or “removal” to see if it takes you to the information you need. If the website has a removal procedure, follow the steps they provide.
• If the website has no information about removal. Find their contact information and tell them you would like your photo removed. It can be difficult to find the website’s contact information. You may have to look for small links at the bottom or top of the page. Sometimes the information is not labeled as contact information but can be found in links to the “administrator” or “about us” sections of the website.

If you ARE the copyright holder, in addition to the above, you may be protected by a federal law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, it is illegal for websites to post copyrighted photos without permission. To have your copyrighted photo removed from the internet, you must send a notice of copyright infringement (an official notice that tells the website it has violated federal copyright law).

You can send notices of copyright infringement to all of the following:

• The website that posted your photo.
• The company that hosts (gives space on the internet) the website.
• Any search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.) that allow the photo to appear when your name or personal information is searched.

See below for a detailed explanation of how to send a copyright infringement notice.

I am the copyright holder of my photo. How to I use the Digital Copyright Millennium Act to have it removed?

If you are the copyright holder, you are protected by the Digital Copyright Millennium Act and can send copyright infringement notices to the websites and search engines that publish your photo. When websites or host companies receive a copyright infringement notice, they are legally required to remove the photo. When a search engine receives a copyright infringement notice, it cannot make the website take down your photo, but it must hide your image so it does not appear in search results. Below are the steps copyright holder should take to have their photos removed:

Contact the website directly. Start by directly contacting the website that has published your photo and ask them to remove it. In some cases, the website may cooperate and you will not need to send a copyright infringement notice. Read the preceding section of this article to learn more about how to find the website’s contact information.

If the website refuses to remove your photo or does not respond: Send a notice of copyright infringement by mail or e mail. The law requires your notice to have certain information. First, you should clearly state that you are notifying the company of copyright infringement under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §512. Your e mail or letter must include the following:

• Your physical or electronic signature or a physical or electronic signature of somebody authorized to represent you.
• Enough information for the website to locate the photos you want removed (exact web address where the photos appear and printed copies or descriptions of the photos).
• Enough information for the company to contact you (phone number, street address, e mail address).
• A statement that says you have not authorized the website to use your images. You must include the terms “good faith.” For example, you could write, "I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, or its agent of the law."
• A statement that says the information in your letter is true. It is important to include the exact words used in the law. For example, you could write, "Under the penalty of perjury I state that the information contained in my complaint is accurate and I am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright I claim is infringed."

Make sure you keep copies of all the correspondence you send and receive.

If you sent a notice of copyright infringement and the website does not remove your photo: In this case, you should send copyright infringement notices to popular search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing and to the web hosting company. Google, Yahoo!, and Bing have online forms you can use to send your copyright infringement notice. You can find the forms/contact information at:

• Google: Report Content On Google
• Yahoo!: Copyright / DMCA
• Bing: Online infringement forms

To send a copyright notice to the web hosting company, you must find the hosting company’s contact information. You may be able to find that information at www.whois.com. To perform a search, copy and paste the web address of your photo. Then, using the contact information you find, send a copyright infringement notice with the information described above. Make sure you keep a copy of everything you send or receive.

I saw an advertisement for a service that will help me remove my photos. Should I pay a service to take down my photo?

No, this is a scam. Unfortunately, some NCII websites have made deals with companies that offer to remove photos for a fee. Some NCII websites allow these services to advertise on their page in exchange for part of their removal fees. One website even posted an advertisement for a New York lawyer who specialized in removing photos. In reality, the lawyer did not exist and the website was charging people several hundred dollars to remove their photos.

I want to get a restraining order and press charges against my partner, but I’ll lose my job if I miss work to go to court or talk to the police. How can I protect my rights and keep my job?

The New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act (NJ SAFE Act) allows domestic violence victims and their parents, spouses, domestic/civil partners to take up to 20 days of unpaid leave in one year to access the services they need. This means an employer cannot fire an employee for taking days off to handle matters related to domestic violence. This law lets victims take time off to get medical attention, legal services, or counseling without losing their jobs. The law also lets victims go to court without losing their jobs.

The NJ SAFE Act does not apply to all types of work situations. In order to qualify as an employee under the law, you must have worked for at least twelve months or 1000 base hours. Also, your employer must have at least 25 employees for 20 or more weeks out of the year. To learn more about the NJ SAFE Act, visit Employment Rights—The NJ SAFE Act.

How can I avoid becoming a victim of NCII?

The only way to completely prevent yourself from being a victim of NCII is to not take or share intimate photos of yourself. If you do decide to take intimate photos, think carefully before sharing them. To whom are you sending them? How well do you know the person? Can you really trust them? How would you feel about the photo being online? Unfortunately, an impulsive moment shared with the wrong person can have terrible consequences. A good rule of thumb is to avoid sharing any photos that you would be embarrassed to find on the internet.

Also, do not trust technology to delete photos. Files that have been deleted can easily be recovered. Also, “apps” like Snapchat that allow you to send messages that “disappear” are not always what they seem. Images sent through Snapchat are not really deleted and can be accessed later. There are apps that allow the person to save the photo without you being notified. It is important to remember that you can choose to send photos of yourself, but you cannot choose what that person later decides to do with them.

You can set up an alert to e mail you whenever material associated with your name appears online. You can do this by creating search alerts on popular search engines like Google. Also, it might not be a good idea to delete or stop using your Facebook, Instagram, or other social media accounts. If you remove your accounts and are not active online, your photos will be one of the first things to appear when somebody searches your name. If you remain active online, photos of you become harder to find because they are more likely to be “buried” in search results.

Ever since I found out my photos are online, I have been feeling down. Are there any resources or organizations that help victims of NCII?

NCII can be personally and professionally devastating. If you are struggling with the effects of NCII, you are not alone and there are resources to help. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative is a website dedicated to assisting victims of the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Its website provides detailed information and resources for those who have been affected by NCII. Visit CRII Safety Center. Additionally, the National Network to End Domestic Violence has an initiative called Safety Net. Safety Net provides up-to-date information and tools for victims to combat abuse. Visit Safety Net Project.

Where else can I get help if I am a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault? What if I need legal help?

National Domestic Violence Hotline

• 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) Provides confidential service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Visit their website for more information and live chat with a domestic violence advocate.

New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-572-SAFE (7233)

• Provides confidential service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence

• Visit their website for more information about domestic violence and a list of services by county

New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-601-7200

• Provides 24-hour access to Confidential Sexual Violence Advocates

You can also download Legal Services of New Jersey’s comprehensive guide to domestic violence law, Domestic Violence: A Guide to the Legal Rights of Domestic Violence Victims in New Jersey.

If you have questions or need legal help, call the LSNJLAW^SM Hotline at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (576-5529), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This information last reviewed: Sep 5, 2025