I Discovered Revenge Porn Online: What Should I Do First?

The First Steps After Finding Your Images Shared Without Consent

The moment you realize someone has posted or shared an intimate image of you without your consent, your world can start spinning. Your heart races. Your mind floods with questions. Who saw it? How long has it been up? Can you get it taken down? What happens now?

First, pause, and breathe. This moment is overwhelming, but you’re not powerless. What you do in the hours and days that follow can make a real difference in both your healing and your legal path forward.

Our sexual abuse attorneys have helped countless clients navigate the chaos of discovery. At Horn Wright, LLP, we provide more than just legal advice, we give you a calm, clear action plan during a moment that feels anything but calm. You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to rush without guidance.

Why Quick Documentation Is Critical

Once you find the image or video online, your instinct might be to click away or try to make it disappear immediately. But what you do before it disappears matters even more. In revenge porn cases, documentation becomes your strongest weapon. Without it, the legal trail weakens.

Make sure to document:

• The URL or exact location of the image or post
• Screenshots that include dates, usernames, and visible comments
• Search engine results where the image appears or is indexed

This evidence helps prove several critical points: that the content was publicly accessible, that it was posted without your consent, and that it caused real harm. In many cases, offenders delete the content once confronted or tipped off, and without documentation, it becomes harder to trace their actions.

Quick action doesn’t mean reckless action. Capture what’s needed, then work with someone who knows how to turn it into a case.

Who to Contact Immediately to Preserve Your Rights

After you've documented the evidence, the next step is to get the right people involved. Not everyone needs to know, but certain key contacts can protect your rights and ensure the content is handled properly.

People and platforms to notify:

• A sexual abuse attorney who can assess the legal landscape and protect your privacy from the start
• The hosting platform or website, using their abuse or legal complaint forms
• Law enforcement if the situation includes threats, blackmail, or stalking behavior

It’s tempting to tell friends or confront the person who posted it, but resist that urge. What you say could be used against you later, especially in civil litigation. Let a professional handle the communication from here.

Our attorneys help you draft the right messages, send takedown notices, and initiate protective steps like cease and desist letters or orders of protection. The earlier we’re involved, the more secure your rights become.

How to Avoid Mistakes That Can Harm Your Case

When you're dealing with betrayal and panic, it’s easy to make missteps. And in revenge porn cases, even small actions can ripple out in big ways. Avoiding common mistakes gives your case a much stronger foundation.

Some missteps to steer clear of:

• Engaging directly with the offender, which may escalate things or damage legal positioning
• Posting about the situation on social media, which can be used to discredit or undermine your claim
• Delaying documentation or reporting, which can lead to lost evidence

These aren't just suggestions, they’re legal realities. Courts look at timelines, behavior, and effort. Waiting too long or acting impulsively can hurt the credibility of your case, especially when judges evaluate damages for emotional distress or financial harm.

With guidance, you can stay on track from the beginning, without giving the other side anything to use against you later.

New Hampshire Has Fewer Immediate Remedies for Victims Than New York

If you live near a state border or the offender lives elsewhere, you might be wondering which state’s law applies. This is important, because not all states provide the same protections.

In New Hampshire, revenge porn is illegal, but legal remedies are more limited:

• Civil damages are more restricted, particularly for emotional harm
• Judges are less likely to issue emergency injunctions or takedown orders
• Criminal charges may apply, but prosecutions are less frequent

New York, on the other hand, gives victims faster, broader options. Under New York Penal Law § 245.15, you can request both criminal charges and civil compensation, often simultaneously. Judges can also issue orders of protection, search warrants for online activity, and immediate removal demands for third-party sites.

Our sexual abuse attorneys can help determine if your case qualifies for New York’s stronger protections, even if it involves people or platforms in other states.

Why Speed Matters in Online Content Removal

Revenge porn spreads fast. In some cases, within hours of posting, the image gets re-shared, downloaded, or screenshotted dozens of times. That’s why speed isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

Quick removal minimizes:

• The number of people who see or save the image
• The chance it spreads to other platforms
• The emotional and reputational harm you suffer

New York courts understand this urgency. In many cases, judges issue temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions that force offenders or websites to take down content immediately, often without waiting for the full case to proceed.

We work with removal experts, online investigators, and platform-specific procedures to get your content off the internet fast. The longer it stays up, the more lasting the damage, and we’ll fight to limit that exposure however possible.

Protecting Yourself From Ongoing Harm

Even after the image is taken down, many victims still feel unsafe. You might worry the offender saved copies, or that they’re watching your movements online. That’s a real and valid fear, and it’s one we take seriously.

Protection goes beyond legal claims. We often help clients:

• Secure digital privacy by locking down social media, email, and phone accounts
• Request restraining orders, especially when there’s harassment or stalking involved
• Create safety plans, including help with relocation or security improvements if needed

Just because the image disappears doesn’t mean the fear does. Our attorneys work closely with trauma-informed professionals and digital security teams to protect your peace of mind, not just your case file.

You deserve safety and dignity after such a violation. And we’ll do everything possible to help you get both.

Horn Wright, LLP, Provides Immediate Guidance After Discovery

The first hours after discovering revenge porn feel like a storm of confusion. But the right guidance can turn fear into direction. If you’ve just found your image online, take a breath, then take action. Our sexual abuse attorneys know how to step in quickly, quietly, and effectively to help protect your rights and your future.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we don’t just build strong cases, we respond with urgency. You don’t have to guess about what comes next or whether your experience “counts.” We’ll help you remove the content, stop the harm, and build a case that holds the right people accountable, starting now.