Can I Demand a Website Take Down My Images or Videos?

Victims Deserve Control Over Their Privacy

When you discover that a private photo or video has been posted online without your permission, it’s natural to feel violated, angry, and overwhelmed. But amid the panic, one question usually rises to the top: Can I make them take it down?

The answer is yes ,in many cases, you can demand that a website remove your content, and the law in New York is on your side. You don’t need to beg, and you don’t need to wait for the site to “do the right thing.” You have legal leverage.

Our sexual abuse attorneys have helped clients get content removed from social media, adult websites, and public forums, fast. At Horn Wright, LLP, we act quickly and quietly to send legally binding notices and apply the pressure needed to make platforms respond. If your image is online without consent, we’ll help you take back control.

New York’s Civil Remedies for Content Removal

New York has some of the most survivor-forward revenge porn laws in the country. Under New York Penal Law § 245.15, it’s a criminal offense to share explicit images without consent, but the law also gives you civil tools to have that content taken down.

Here’s what New York allows:

• Victims can sue for injunctive relief, asking the court to order websites to remove the content
• Judges can issue temporary or permanent orders blocking the spread of that content
• Civil claims under New York Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51 let you seek both removal and compensation

This means you don’t have to wait for a criminal case to finish, or even to be filed, to start the removal process. If your case qualifies, we can take civil action that forces websites or platforms to comply or face penalties.

We’ve handled takedowns involving everything from personal blogs to global hosting providers. And we know which legal levers work best in each situation.

The Role of Federal Law in Content Takedowns

In addition to state laws, federal legislation can help support your demand for content removal. Although Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects websites from being held liable for what users post, it doesn’t stop you from demanding removal — especially if your rights have been violated.

Federal laws that may support your case include:

• 18 U.S.C. § 2261A (Cyberstalking), which criminalizes online threats and harassment
• The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which includes digital abuse provisions
• Federal copyright law, if you own the photo or video and didn’t consent to its use

If the image was taken by you, or features you in a clearly identifiable way, you may be able to use copyright law to demand removal through a DMCA takedown notice, even if the platform is hosted overseas.

Our attorneys understand how to blend federal and state approaches for maximum speed and pressure. We know what language platforms respond to, and what gets ignored.

How to File a Proper Takedown Request

Every website is different, but most have at least one channel for removing non-consensual content. Filing a proper request increases your chances of getting a fast, favorable response.

A strong takedown request should:

• Include direct links to the images or videos
• State clearly that the content was posted without your consent
• Reference applicable state and/or federal laws
• Include a request for permanent removal, not just temporary deletion

Be careful not to send overly emotional or vague messages. Stick to facts, dates, and legal language. If you’re unsure how to phrase it, our team can draft or send the request on your behalf, using proven formats that get attention.

New Hampshire Offers Weaker Legal Remedies for Content Removal Than New York

If your content was shared in multiple states or online platforms with national reach, jurisdiction matters. And when it comes to legal remedies for content removal, New York is significantly stronger than New Hampshire.

Here’s why:

• New York allows victims to seek injunctive relief directly tied to content removal
• Courts in NY issue protective orders for online content
• New Hampshire has fewer civil remedies for emotional distress or takedown enforcement

In other words, if your case touches New York in any way, you live here, the website is accessible here, or the harm occurred here, we’ll fight to anchor your case in this state’s stronger system.

We’ve helped clients overcome jurisdictional hurdles by demonstrating reputational harm or emotional trauma that happened in New York, even if the content originated elsewhere.

Why Websites Often Remove Content Only After Legal Threats

Many platforms, especially adult sites or anonymous forums, don’t respond until they’re forced to. They may ignore polite requests or take weeks to process a report. But once they receive a formal legal threat, their tone often changes fast.

Websites respond quickly when:

• They receive a letter from an attorney referencing specific statutes
• There’s a risk of civil liability if they keep the content up
• A court order or subpoena is attached

Without pressure, some sites hide behind vague “free speech” policies or delay action indefinitely. But once we get involved, that changes. We’ve seen sites remove content in under 24 hours, not because they wanted to, but because they knew the consequences of refusing.

Even large tech platforms that seem untouchable often have internal legal teams that respond swiftly to formal legal contact.

What to Do if Websites Refuse to Comply

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a site refuses to act. That’s not the end of the road — it just means your strategy needs to shift. You still have options to increase pressure and escalate your response.

Steps we help clients take when removal is refused:

• File for an emergency injunction through New York civil court
• Send a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice if you own the content
• Initiate a lawsuit seeking damages and takedown enforcement
• Work with investigators to find alternative ways to contact anonymous site admins

We also contact hosting services, search engines, and content delivery networks (CDNs) to isolate the source of the content and cut off access, even if the site itself won’t comply.

Our team doesn’t stop at the first no. We keep pushing until you get results, or we escalate it to the courtroom, where the stakes are higher for everyone on the other side.

Horn Wright, LLP, Forces Platforms to Take Action

When your privacy has been invaded and your image is out there without permission, you need fast, smart legal action. That starts with knowing your rights, and knowing which levers to pull to make the internet respond. Our sexual abuse attorneys take immediate steps to force websites to remove content and prevent future reposting.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we’ve helped victims take down images across dozens of platforms, some in a matter of hours. We don’t wait for websites to do the right thing. We demand it, and we’ll help you force platforms to act, and hold them accountable if they don’t.