All 50 states and Washington, DC now have criminal laws against revenge porn, or sharing someone’s intimate images without consent. South Carolina became the last state when its governor signed a ban on May 12, 2025, according to the SC Daily Gazette.
Penalties vary widely. In our review of all 51 laws, 13 states make a first offense a felony, while 37 states and DC treat it as a misdemeanor, with maximum sentences ranging from 90 days to 7 years.
In this article, we’ll break down every state’s revenge porn law, which states treat it as a felony, the penalties, which states cover AI deepfakes, how often the laws are enforced and how courts have ruled.
Top Revenge Porn Law Statistics
- All 50 states and DC criminalize sharing intimate images without consent; South Carolina was last, in May 2025.
- 13 states make a first offense a felony; 37 states and DC make it a misdemeanor.
- Maximum first-offense sentences range from 90 days in Alaska to 7 years in Missouri and New Hampshire.
- 46 states criminalize sexual deepfakes of adults, and 35 of them added that coverage in 2024 or 2025.
- Only 3 states had revenge porn laws before 2013; by July 2017, 38 states and DC did.
- The highest courts of six states have upheld revenge porn laws against free-speech challenges.
- Fewer than 800 people were charged under Florida’s law from 2017 to late 2023, about 8 a month.
Which States Have Revenge Porn Laws?
All of them. Every state and DC now criminalizes sharing intimate images without consent, after Massachusetts became the 49th state in June 2024, according to WBUR, and South Carolina the 50th in May 2025.
Most laws are recent. Before 2013, only 3 states criminalized the disclosure of sexually explicit images of adults, and by July 2017, 38 states and DC had done so, according to Mary Anne Franks (Florida Law Review). California’s 2013 law, signed on October 1, 2013, started the modern wave, per the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy.
Here’s a breakdown of key milestones in state revenge porn laws:
| Year | Milestone | Jurisdictions With Laws |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | New Jersey’s invasion-of-privacy law bars disclosing intimate images | 1 |
| 2013 | California passes the first modern revenge porn law | 4 |
| 2014 | 12 states pass laws in a single year | 16 |
| 2015 | 13 more states and DC act | 30 |
| 2019 | New York, Indiana and others join | 47 |
| 2024 | Massachusetts becomes the 49th state | 50 |
| 2025 | South Carolina becomes the 50th state | 51 |
Counts include DC and are based on the year each current law was first enacted (our review). Sources: Christian Science Monitor, UNC, WBUR, SC Daily Gazette
Revenge Porn Laws in All 50 States
Here’s a breakdown of revenge porn laws in every state and DC:
| State | Statute | Year Enacted | First Offense | Max Penalty, First Offense | Deepfakes Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 13A-6-240 | 2017 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $6,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Alaska | AS 11.61.120(a)(6) | 2011 | Class B misdemeanor | 90 days / $2,000 | No |
| Arizona | A.R.S. § 13-1425 | 2014 | Class 5 felony (Class 4 if online) | 2.5 years (aggravated) / $150,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Arkansas | Ark. Code § 5-26-314 | 2015 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $2,500 | Yes (2025) |
| California | Cal. Penal Code § 647(j)(4) | 2013 | Misdemeanor | 6 months / $1,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Colorado | C.R.S. § 18-7-107 | 2014 | Class 1 misdemeanor | 1 year / $11,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-189c | 2015 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $2,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Delaware | 11 Del. C. § 1335(a)(9) | 2014 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $2,300 | Yes (2024) |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 22-3052 | 2015 | Misdemeanor | 6 months / $1,000 | No |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 784.049 | 2015 | First-degree misdemeanor | 1 year / $1,000 | Yes (2022) |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 16-11-90 | 2014 | High and aggravated misdemeanor | 1 year / $5,000 | Yes (2020) |
| Hawaii | HRS § 711-1110.9(1)(b)-(c) | 2014 | Class C felony | 5 years / $10,000 | Yes (2021) |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 18-6605 | 2014 | Felony | 5 years / $50,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Illinois | 720 ILCS 5/11-23.5 | 2014 | Class 4 felony | 3 years / $25,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 35-45-4-8 | 2019 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $5,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 708.7(1)(a)(5) | 2017 | Aggravated misdemeanor | 2 years / $8,540 | Yes (2024) |
| Kansas | K.S.A. 21-6101(a)(8) | 2016 | Level 8 person felony | 9 months (no prior record) / $100,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Kentucky | KRS 531.120 | 2018 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $500 | Yes (2024) |
| Louisiana | La. R.S. 14:283.2 | 2015 | Felony | 2 years / $10,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Maine | 17-A M.R.S. §511-A | 2015 | Class D crime (misdemeanor) | 1 year / $2,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Maryland | Md. Code, Crim. Law §3-809 | 2014 | Misdemeanor | 2 years / $5,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 §43A(b)(2) | 2024 | Misdemeanor | 2.5 years / $10,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Michigan | MCL 750.145e | 2016 | Misdemeanor | 93 days / $500 | Yes (2025) |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. §617.261 | 2016 | Gross misdemeanor | 1 year / $3,000 | Yes (2023) |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. §97-29-64.1 | 2021 | Misdemeanor | 6 months / $1,000 | Minors only |
| Missouri | RSMo §573.110 | 2018 | Class D felony | 7 years / $10,000 | Yes (2026) |
| Montana | MCA §45-8-213(1)(d) | 2019 | Misdemeanor | 6 months / $500 | Yes (2025) |
| Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-311.08(4) | 2019 | Class I misdemeanor | 1 year / $1,000 | Civil only |
| Nevada | NRS 200.780 | 2015 | Category D felony | 4 years / $5,000 | Yes (2025) |
| New Hampshire | RSA 644:9-a | 2016 | Class B felony | 7 years / $4,000 | Yes (2024) |
| New Jersey | N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9(c) | 2004 | Third-degree crime (felony)* | 5 years / $30,000 | Yes (2025) |
| New Mexico | NMSA 1978 §30-37A-1 | 2015 | Misdemeanor | 1 year / $1,000 | No |
| New York | N.Y. Penal Law §245.15 | 2019 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $1,000 | Yes (2023) |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. §14-190.5A | 2015 | Class H felony | 19 months (no prior record) | Yes (2024) |
| North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code §12.1-17-07.2 | 2015 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $3,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code 2917.211 | 2019 | Fifth-degree felony (since 2025) | 1 year / $2,500 | Yes (2025) |
| Oklahoma | 21 O.S. 1040.13b | 2016 | Misdemeanor | 1 year / $1,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Oregon | ORS 163.472 | 2015 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $6,250 | Yes (2025) |
| Pennsylvania | 18 Pa.C.S. 3131 | 2014 | Second-degree misdemeanor | 2 years / $5,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws 11-64-3 | 2018 | Misdemeanor | 1 year / $1,000 | Yes (2025) |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code 16-15-332 | 2025 | Misdemeanor | 1 year / $5,000 | Yes (2025) |
| South Dakota | SDCL 22-21-4 | 2011 | Class 1 misdemeanor | 1 year / $2,000 | Yes (2022) |
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code 39-17-318 | 2016 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $2,500 | Yes (2025) |
| Texas | Tex. Penal Code 21.16 | 2015 | State jail felony | 2 years / $10,000 | Yes (2023) |
| Utah | Utah Code 76-5b-203 | 2014 | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year / $2,500 | Yes (2021) |
| Vermont | 13 V.S.A. 2606 | 2015 | Misdemeanor | 2 years / $2,000 | Yes (2024) |
| Virginia | Va. Code 18.2-386.2 | 2014 | Class 1 misdemeanor | 1 year / $2,500 | Yes (2019) |
| Washington | RCW 9A.86.010 | 2015 | Gross misdemeanor | 1 year / $5,000 | Yes (2024) |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code 61-8-28A | 2017 | Misdemeanor | 1 year / $5,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. 942.09(3m) | 2014 | Class A misdemeanor | 9 months / $10,000 | Yes (2025) |
| Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. 6-4-306 | 2021 | Misdemeanor | 1 year / $5,000 | Yes (2021) |
“First offense” is the basic offense for a first conviction involving an adult. *New Jersey’s law covers only images recorded without consent. Ohio made a first offense a felony on September 30, 2025; it was a misdemeanor before. Missouri’s deepfake offense is a separate section, § 573.570 (2026), and New Jersey’s 2025 law covers deepfakes used to commit other crimes, such as harassment; aggravating factors such as profit, posting online or a prior conviction raise the penalty in many states. “1 year” includes maximums of 364 days. “Deepfakes covered” means the criminal law reaches AI-generated or digitally altered sexual images of adults; the year is when that coverage was added. Sources: state codes linked in the table; Ballotpedia, Public Citizen, C.A. Goldberg
Is Revenge Porn a Felony?
In 13 states, yes, even for a first offense: Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. The same 13 appear in RecordingLaw’s count.
In the other 37 states and DC, a first offense is a misdemeanor, but it often becomes a felony with aggravating factors. In Florida, a second offense or one done for financial gain is a third-degree felony with up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to Florida Statutes § 784.049.
Common factors that make revenge porn a felony include:
- A prior conviction, in states such as Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
- Profit or financial gain, in states such as Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi and Vermont.
- Posting online or to many people, in Connecticut, DC and Minnesota.
- Intent to harm, in Arkansas and South Carolina.
In 13 states, the revenge porn law itself has no felony tier for real images of adults, even for repeat offenders: Alaska, California, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Separate voyeurism laws in some of these states can still be felonies when images were secretly recorded.
Here’s a breakdown of the 13 states where a first offense is a felony:
| State | Felony Class | Max Prison, First Offense | Max Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | Class D felony | 7 years | $10,000 |
| New Hampshire | Class B felony | 7 years | $4,000 |
| Hawaii | Class C felony | 5 years | $10,000 |
| Idaho | Felony | 5 years | $50,000 |
| New Jersey | Third-degree crime | 5 years | $30,000 |
| Nevada | Category D felony | 4 years | $5,000 |
| Illinois | Class 4 felony | 3 years | $25,000 |
| Arizona | Class 5 felony | 2.5 years (aggravated) | $150,000 |
| Louisiana | Felony | 2 years | $10,000 |
| Texas | State jail felony | 2 years | $10,000 |
| North Carolina | Class H felony | 19 months (no prior record) | Set by court |
| Ohio | Fifth-degree felony | 1 year | $2,500 |
| Kansas | Level 8 person felony | 9 months (no prior record) | $100,000 |
Which States Cover Deepfake Revenge Porn?
46 states criminalize AI-generated or digitally altered sexual images of adults, in our review of state codes. Alaska, Mississippi (minors only), Nebraska (civil lawsuits only), New Mexico and DC don’t.
Most of these laws are new. 35 of the 46 states added deepfake coverage in 2024 or 2025, and Virginia was first, in 2019, according to MultiState.
Trackers count differently. Ballotpedia counts 48 states with laws on sexually explicit deepfakes as of August 2026, listing only Ohio and New Mexico without one, according to Ballotpedia. Its count includes laws limited to minors or to civil lawsuits. Ohio’s code, by contrast, has covered “fabricated sexual images” since September 30, 2025, according to Ohio Revised Code § 2917.211.
Here’s a breakdown of how state deepfake laws have grown:
| Date | States With Sexual Deepfake Laws | Source |
|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | 27 | MultiState |
| September 2024 | 23 | Public Citizen |
| May 2025 | 32 | Ballotpedia |
| July 2025 | 45 | Ballotpedia |
| April 2026 | 46 | Ballotpedia |
| August 2026 | 48 | Ballotpedia |
Trackers use different definitions, including whether laws covering only minors count. Sources: MultiState, Public Citizen, Ballotpedia (May 2025), Ballotpedia (July 2025), Ballotpedia (April 2026), Ballotpedia (August 2026)
Can You Sue for Revenge Porn?
Yes. Victims anywhere can sue under federal law, and about half of states add their own civil remedy. 27 states give victims an explicit civil remedy for image-based abuse, by the count of the Joyful Heart Foundation (2025), which treats DC and territories as states, while RecordingLaw counts 32 of 51, four of them limited in scope.
Civil verdicts can be large. A Harris County, Texas jury awarded $1.2 billion to a woman whose ex-boyfriend shared her intimate images, according to NBC News, though awards like this are rarely collected in full.
Victims in every state can also sue under federal law for $150,000 in liquidated damages or their actual damages, according to Cornell Law School.
How Often Are Revenge Porn Laws Enforced?
Prosecutions are relatively rare. Fewer than 800 people were charged under Florida’s revenge porn law from 2017 to late 2023, about 8 a month statewide, according to court data reported by WFTS Tampa Bay.
In California, at least 190 cases were prosecuted in Bay Area counties from October 2013, when the law took effect, to May 2022, led by Santa Clara County with 66, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Most states don’t publish statewide prosecution figures.
Here’s a breakdown of available enforcement data:
| State | Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | People charged, 2017 to late 2023 | Fewer than 800 | WFTS Tampa Bay |
| Florida | Average charges per month | About 8 | WFTS Tampa Bay |
| California | Cases prosecuted in Bay Area counties since October 2013 | At least 190 | San Francisco Chronicle |
| California | Santa Clara County cases | 66 | San Francisco Chronicle |
| DC | Sentence in first conviction (with stalking and other charges) | 9 years | DCist |
Have Courts Upheld State Revenge Porn Laws?
Yes. The highest courts of six states, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas and Vermont, have rejected First Amendment challenges to their revenge porn laws, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The best-known successful challenge came in Arizona. A federal court permanently barred enforcement of Arizona’s 2014 law in July 2015 under a settlement with booksellers and publishers, according to the ACLU, and Arizona agreed to pay $202,000 in legal fees, per the Tucson Weekly. Arizona passed a narrower law in 2016.
Here’s a breakdown of key court rulings on state revenge porn laws:
| Year | State | Case | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Arizona | Antigone Books v. Brnovich | 2014 law permanently blocked under a settlement |
| 2018 | Vermont | State v. VanBuren | Upheld by state supreme court |
| 2018 | Wisconsin | State v. Culver | Upheld by court of appeals |
| 2019 | Illinois | People v. Austin | Upheld by state supreme court, 5–2 |
| 2020 | Minnesota | State v. Casillas | Upheld by state supreme court |
| 2021 | Texas | Ex parte Jones | Upheld by Court of Criminal Appeals |
| 2022 | Indiana | State v. Katz | Upheld by state supreme court |
| 2024 | Nebraska | State v. Zitterkopf | Upheld by state supreme court |
Revenge Porn Laws in California, Texas, Florida and New York
California
California’s law, Penal Code § 647(j)(4), makes revenge porn a misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. A repeat offense, or one involving a minor, raises the maximum to 1 year and $2,000, but it remains a misdemeanor. Since January 2025, the law has also covered computer-generated images.
Texas
Texas treats revenge porn as a state jail felony under Penal Code § 21.16, with 180 days to 2 years in state jail and a fine of up to $10,000. The law dates to 2015, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld it in 2021. A separate offense, § 21.165, covers sexual deepfakes.
Florida
In Florida, a first offense under § 784.049 is a first-degree misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Repeat offenses and those done for financial gain are third-degree felonies, and since 2022 a separate law has made sharing altered sexual depictions a felony.
New York
New York’s Penal Law § 245.15, in force since 2019, makes revenge porn a Class A misdemeanor with up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. A 2023 amendment added images created or altered by digitization, and victims can also sue under Civil Rights Law § 52-b.
How State Laws Fit With Federal Law
State laws now sit alongside a federal one. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed in May 2025, makes publishing intimate images without consent a federal crime with up to 2 years in prison for images of adults, and requires platforms to remove reported images within 48 hours, according to Cornell Law School. Our Take It Down Act guide explains what platforms must do under the federal law and what critics say about it.
Victims who want images taken down can follow the step-by-step guide to reporting revenge porn and getting it removed.
Methodology
We reviewed 280 data points from 104 sources. We reviewed the current criminal statute for each state and DC, mostly on official state legislature websites, with recognized legal publishers where official pages were incomplete. Maximum penalties come from each state’s general sentencing laws for the offense class. “Year enacted” is when the state first passed a law covering revenge porn; many have been amended since. Aggregate figures come from Ballotpedia, MultiState, Public Citizen, the Joyful Heart Foundation, RecordingLaw, the Congressional Research Service and Mary Anne Franks’s research, and enforcement figures from news reports based on court records.
Felony and deepfake counts are our own tallies from the statutes and may differ from other trackers because of definitions. Kansas and North Carolina use sentencing grids, so their maximums depend on criminal history. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Key Takeaways
All 50 states and DC now criminalize revenge porn, after South Carolina became the last state in May 2025. 13 states make a first offense a felony, with maximum sentences up to 7 years in Missouri and New Hampshire.
46 states also criminalize sexual deepfakes of adults, most of them since 2024. The highest courts of six states have upheld revenge porn laws, but prosecutions remain relatively rare.
FAQ
Is revenge porn illegal in every state?
Yes. All 50 states and Washington, DC have criminal laws against sharing intimate images without consent. South Carolina was the last state to pass one, in May 2025.
Is revenge porn a felony?
It depends on the state. 13 states make a first offense a felony, including Texas, Illinois, New Jersey and Ohio. In the other 37 states and DC, a first offense is a misdemeanor, though repeat offenses or aggravating factors often make it a felony.
Which state has the harshest revenge porn law?
Missouri and New Hampshire have the longest maximum sentences for a first offense, up to 7 years in prison.
Is revenge porn a felony in California?
No. In California, revenge porn is a misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine, or up to 1 year and $2,000 for repeat offenses.
Is revenge porn a felony in Texas?
Yes. Texas makes it a state jail felony with up to 2 years in state jail and a $10,000 fine.
Do state laws cover AI deepfakes?
46 states criminalize sexual deepfakes of adults, most since 2024. Alaska, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico and DC don’t, though some cover minors or allow civil lawsuits.
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