Revenge Porn Lawyer for Victims in Maryland

Whitney, LLP represents victims whose intimate images were shared, posted, or distributed without consent (“revenge porn” / nonconsensual intimate images) in Maryland. We help clients stop the spread, protect their privacy, and pursue civil remedies against the person responsible.

Those legal rights can include:

• statutory damages of $150,000 and other monetary damages (depending on the facts and the applicable law),

• fast takedown and de-indexing strategies to reduce exposure online,

• court orders to stop further distribution, and

• filing suit as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” to protect privacy while the case proceeds.

These cases arise in many settings, including former relationships, divorces and custody disputes, workplace retaliation, dating apps, and anonymous online posts, but the core issue is the same: private images were shared without permission.

Victims should know this: sharing an intimate image with one person is not consent to have it posted, forwarded, or distributed to anyone else. Maryland law and federal law provides tools for victims to fight back—by pursuing civil remedies for damages and by reporting conduct that may also violate criminal laws.

If you need a Maryland revenge porn / nonconsensual intimate images lawyer, contact Whitney, LLP. We provide confidential guidance on preservation of evidence, takedown options, and legal claims to stop further distribution and hold the responsible person accountable.In urgent situations, we can move quickly to seek court relief and coordinate a takedown strategy.”

We represent clients statewide, including Annapolis, Baltimore, Towson, Silver Spring, Columbia, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, Laurel, Ellicott City, Salisbury, Ocean City, and Cumberland.  We can represent clients out of state by associating with a local co-counsel.

We offer Free Case Evaluations in revenge porn and unauthorized intimate image distribution cases.  

Call Whitney, LLP today at 410) 583-8000 or use our Quick Contact Form.  All consultations are confidential.

What to Do in the First 24 Hours (Simple Steps)

1. Save proof (right away). Take screenshots showing the image, the username/profile, the date/time, and the URL.

2. Save communications.  Save any texts/emails/DMs where the person admits it, threatens you, or discusses sharing it.

3. Make a quick list of everywhere it appears, if possible. Copy each site/app and link where the image is posted or reposted.

4. Report it for removal.
   Use the platform’s “report” tool and select the option for nonconsensual intimate images (or similar). Include the exact links.

5. Protect your accounts.
   Change passwords and turn on two-factor authentication, especially for email and social media.

6. Get legal help.
   A lawyer can help stop further sharing, pursue claims, and advise on whether you can proceed as Jane Doe/John Doe.

Whitney, LLP has experience representing clients in revenge porn claims, invasion of privacy claims, illegal surveillance and stalking / GPS trackers and divorce privacy violations, hidden cameras (Airbnb hidden camera case filed by Whitney, LLP), Maryland recording and wiretapping laws, and other matters involving highly personal matters and images.

Watch our Youtube video on being Recorded Without Consent, and to see our other practice areas.  

What is “Revenge Porn”?

“Revenge porn” is the common term for sharing or posting intimate images or videos of someone without their consent—often after a breakup, during a dispute, or as a form of harassment. In Maryland, this is also often described as nonconsensual intimate image disclosure or unauthorized intimate image disclosure.

Victims of revenge porn are often overwhelmed and feel helpless when they discover that their most intimate moments were shared without permission.  Fortunately, victims have many legal rights and can fight back.

In many cases, the images were originally shared privately with a partner, but later posted online, sent to other people, or used to threaten or embarrass the victim. In other cases, the images were obtained without permission, such as through account access, a stolen device, or another invasion of privacy.

Whitney, LLP’s revenge porn lawyers help victims take practical steps to preserve evidence, pursue removal strategies, protect privacy (including Jane Doe/John Doe filings), and seek compensation when the facts and law support it.

Types of Revenge Porn / Nonconsensual Intimate Images (Victims)

Revenge porn can happen in different ways, but the key issue is the same: intimate images are shared or posted without your consent.

• Ex-partner sharing (“classic revenge porn”) after a breakup or dispute.

• Threats to post images (“sextortion”) to force money, more images, or unwanted actions.

• Images taken or obtained without permission (hacked accounts/devices, stolen phone, hidden camera) and then shared.

• AI or “deepfake” sexual images made by digitally altering photos or videos to look like you that make you recognizable.

Revenge Porn Law

Nonconsensual intimate image disclosure (“revenge porn”) can involve both criminal and civil law.

• Criminal law: A victim can report what happened to law enforcement. If the evidence supports it, the State may pursue charges.

• Civil law: A victim may be able to file a lawsuit to stop further distribution, protect privacy, and seek money damages and other relief.  The purpose of civil proceedings are focused on obtaining compensation for victims of revenge porn and taking action to remove the images from the internet. 

It is important to understand that civil claims can be brought without criminal charges being brought.  And, a civil revenge porn lawsuit can be brought even if a State prosecutor declines to bring criminal charges.

For example, Whitney, LLP successfully brought a civil lawsuit for revenge porn and nonconsensual intimate image distribution after a Maryland prosecutor declined to being criminal charges due to concerns about the statute of limitations. Although the same defense was raised in the civil lawsuit, we prevailed over that argument and all of our client’s legal claims were kept alive, which we leveraged into a large settlement.

 Victims of revenge porn in Maryland can use both federal law and Maryland law to seek compensation and fight back against revenge porn.

Significant compensation is available for victims of revenge porn. For example, federal law allows for victims to collect damages of $150,000, or more in actual damages, when intimate images are shared without consent.  15 U.S. Code § 6851, the Violence Against Women Act.

Federal Law (15 U.S.C. § 6851): A Civil Lawsuit for Victims

Federal law,15 U.S. Code § 6851, the 2022 Violence Against Women Act, allows a victim to bring a civil action in federal court against someone who shared intimate images without consent using the internet or other means of interstate commerce. Importantly, consenting to take or share an image privately does not mean consenting to its distribution.

Depending on the case, a Court can order the defendant to:

• stop sharing the images (temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions),

• pay at least $150,000 / compensate additional losses,

• pay attorney’s fees and costs, and

• the court may allow the victim to proceed as “Jane Doe” / “John Doe” to protect privacy.

This is an extremely powerful law that victims of revenge porn and nonconsensual intimate image distribution are often unaware of.

Federal Law: Minimum $150,000 Damages

The 2022 Violence Against Women Act allows for the recovery of $150,000 in liquidated damages, or the recovery of actual damages.  What this means is that victims who prove their case are entitled to a judgment of at least $150,000.  One reason for this is that the law understands that it can be very hard for a jury to put a value on the emotional and financial impact of intimate images being distributed without consent.

Maryland Law for Civil Claims for Nonconsensual Intimate Images

Maryland law provides many options to bring revenge porn lawsuits and lawsuits for nonconsensual intimate image distribution.

Invasion of Privacy – Intrusion Upon Seclusion

Intrusion upon seclusion is an invasion of privacy claim that applies when someone intentionally intrudes on a person’s private life in a way that is highly offensive.

In a Maryland revenge porn lawsuit, this claim can apply when intimate photos were created within a private relationship and the perpetrator later weaponizes that private intimacy—such as by uploading, distributing, or exploiting the images in a way that violates the victim’s sexual privacy.

Invasion of Privacy – Unreasonable Publicity Given to Private Life

Unreasonable publicity given to private life is an invasion of privacy claim focused on publicizing private information that is not of legitimate public concern and would be highly offensive to a reasonable person.

This is often one of the most direct civil theories for nonconsensual pornography. When intimate images are posted online, whether on porn sites, social media, forums, or sent broadly to others, the victim’s private sexual content becomes public content without permission.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty / Breach of Confidential Relationship

A breach of confidential relationship claim focuses on betrayal of a relationship of trust where one person had a duty to treat sensitive information as private.

Revenge porn is frequently rooted in trust: the victim shares or allows intimate photos only because of explicit promises like “this stays private” or an implied agreement that the images will never be shared.

Fraud (Misrepresentation to Obtain or Keep Intimate Images)

Fraud applies when someone makes a material false statement, intending the victim to rely on it, the victim does rely, and the victim is harmed as a result.

In some nonconsensual intimate images cases, the perpetrator obtains or retains intimate photos through deception—such as repeatedly assuring the victim the images will never be shared, while secretly intending to post them or being reckless about that promise. When a victim is deceived into sending nudes or allowing intimate photos to be taken based on false promises of privacy, fraud can fit.

Negligence

Negligence is a civil claim based on breach of a legal duty that causes damages.

Even though revenge porn is often intentional, negligence can be pled as an additional civil theory—especially when statutory duties are used to define what reasonable conduct requires. Maryland has a specific Maryland revenge porn statute (Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-809) addressing knowing distribution of intimate images under certain circumstances. In civil litigation, statutory standards like this can support the argument that the perpetrator violated a recognized duty to avoid nonconsensual pornography and the predictable harms it causes.

Whitney, LLP’s revenge porn lawyers have experience applying the applicable laws to the specific facts of our clients’ cases and according to our clients’ goals. 

Revenge Porn is a Crime in Maryland

Maryland law also considered revenge porn to be a crime, which means victims of revenge porn can seek to have criminal charges brought against defendants.  Whitney, LLP’s revenge porn lawyers have experience helping revenge porn victims navigate the process of filing criminal charges.

Maryland’s criminal revenge porn statute prohibits knowingly distributing a visual representation (including certain computer-generated images) under defined circumstances, and violations can be a misdemeanor with penalties up to 2 years and/or $5,000.

How to Remove Revenge Porn Images

There are multiple ways to have intimate images removed from the internet. 

1. DCMA Notice – A Digital Millenium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) notice can be sent to website hosts that have the images on their website.  
2. Report to Social Media – Reporting tools can be used through Social Media Platforms, such as Facebook’s reporting tool and Instagram’s reporting tool.
3. Private companies – Private companies can be hired to perform takedown services, although these can be unnecessarily expensive and some are questionable at best.
4. Search Engine Deindexing: Request search engines like Google to deindex the offending content.

Before taking action to remove intimate images from the internet, it is critical to preserve the images and videos that were uploaded and shared without consent, because this will be evidence used in the civil and/or criminal lawsuit.

Whitney, LLP’s experienced revenge porn attorneys can guide victims through the takedown process to ensure that evidence is preserved to support legal claims.

Daniel W. Whitney, Jr. and Daniel W. Whitney, Sr. of Whitney, LLP.

Revenge Porn Lawyer for Victims in Maryland – Whitney, LLP

If you are searching for a revenge porn lawyer near me in Maryland, call Whitney, LLP for a Free Consultation.  

Whitney, LLP’s unauthorized intimate image disclosure lawyers have experience helping victims of revenge porn understand and proceed through the process of fighting back, from the time the violation is discovered through seeking criminal charges and/or proceeding with civil litigation to recover compensation.

Call Whitney, LLP today at 410) 583-8000 or use our Quick Contact Form.  Read our blog to learn more about our practice.  All consultations are confidential.  All cases are different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

CONTACT WHITNEY, LLP

Daniel W. Whitney, Jr., Esq.
Whitney, LLP
409 Washington Ave, Ste 750
Towson, MD 21204
Phone: 410-583-8000
Email: info@whitneyfirm.com
Website: https://www.whitneyfirm.com