Who Should You Contact After Revenge Porn Appears Online?

Knowing Who to Call Can Limit the Damage

The moment you realize someone has shared an explicit photo or video of you online without permission, it can feel like everything’s spiraling. You’re overwhelmed, humiliated, maybe even frozen. But the truth is, what you do next matters, and who you call can change the outcome.

Taking the right steps quickly doesn’t just help remove the content. It helps preserve your legal rights and protect you from further harm. Getting help early means you don’t have to go through this alone or guess your way through a system that can already feel intimidating.

Our sexual abuse attorneys have worked with clients across New York who didn’t know who to trust after discovering revenge porn. At Horn Wright, LLP, we step in as both legal advisors and steady allies. We help you take action while shielding your privacy, and we make sure your case starts on solid ground from the very first call.

Reporting the Content to Law Enforcement in New York

If the content shared without your consent was sexual or intimate in nature, it’s not just wrong, it may be a crime under New York Penal Law § 245.15. Reporting to law enforcement gives you access to the criminal justice system, including protective orders, investigation tools, and, if appropriate, prosecution of the offender.

When contacting law enforcement, consider:

• Bringing your documentation: screenshots, URLs, and evidence of who shared it
• Being clear about lack of consent and any known threats or context
• Requesting a copy of the police report, which may be needed for civil claims later

New York officers in larger cities like NYC, Buffalo, and Rochester are increasingly trained to handle digital abuse cases. Some precincts have officers assigned to tech-related crimes, and that can speed up how seriously your case is taken.

While reporting doesn’t guarantee charges, it creates a legal paper trail, and often, that’s a first step toward accountability.

Contacting Website Administrators for Removal

Once the content is online, your next move is to get it taken down as fast as possible. Even if you plan to file a lawsuit, swift removal reduces exposure and emotional damage. Many victims assume nothing can be done once it’s posted but that’s not true. Most platforms have tools for reporting non-consensual content.

Where to go:

• Social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter all have revenge porn reporting tools
• Adult content sites now comply with takedown requests under pressure from global advocacy groups
• Search engines like Google offer limited removal from search results

When submitting a request, be factual, calm, and specific. Use the platform’s language and provide proof of identity and harm when necessary. Screenshots and URLs matter here.

Our attorneys often assist clients with takedown notices, working directly with platforms or, in urgent cases, sending formal legal letters to demand removal under New York law. We help ensure the process is handled efficiently and discreetly.

Reaching Out to a Lawyer Early On

You don’t need to wait until you’re “sure you want to sue” to talk to a lawyer. In fact, one of the smartest things you can do after discovering revenge porn is to contact an attorney immediately. They’ll protect your rights, help preserve critical evidence, and guide your next moves.

A lawyer can:

• Advise you on criminal vs. civil options
• Help draft takedown or cease-and-desist letters
• File protective orders or lawsuits under New York law
• Handle communication with platforms or the offender
• Work with law enforcement and tech experts if needed

Early legal help can also prevent you from making damaging mistakes, like contacting the offender directly or posting about it online. Even one misstep can affect your case. Let someone who knows the system guide you.

Our sexual abuse attorneys handle revenge porn claims with a balance of urgency and discretion. You don’t have to explain every detail upfront — just know that we’re here to listen, protect, and take action when you’re ready.

Maine Provides Narrower Avenues for Victim Reporting Than New York

Every state treats revenge porn differently. If your case crosses state lines, maybe the offender lives in Maine or the site’s servers are hosted there, understanding jurisdiction matters. And the truth is, New York offers broader and faster legal remedies than Maine.

In Maine:

• Emotional harm claims are harder to prove in civil court
• Removal requests may face slower court action or fewer platform requirements
• Police departments may lack dedicated digital abuse units

In contrast, New York law (Penal Law § 245.15) and Civil Rights Law §§ 50-51 provide stronger grounds for both criminal prosecution and civil compensation. Judges can move quickly to issue takedown orders and even authorize warrants for digital accounts when needed.

If any part of your experience happened in New York, you live here, the content was posted here, or your job/reputation here was impacted, we can help anchor your claim under the state’s more victim-focused laws.

The Role of Cybercrime Units in Handling Revenge Porn

Not every police department is equipped to handle digital crimes. That’s where cybercrime units come in. These specialized divisions work within law enforcement to investigate online abuse, including image-based sexual exploitation.

Cybercrime teams can:

• Trace anonymous profiles or burner accounts used to post content
• Access metadata or subpoena records from platforms
• Help determine whether federal laws apply, especially if interstate or international posting is involved

Larger New York counties, including Manhattan, Kings, Queens, and Westchester, have access to these resources. If you're in a smaller jurisdiction, your case may be referred to a district-level task force.

We’ve worked directly with cybercrime units to move cases forward faster. With proper coordination, these teams can provide digital forensics support that strengthens both criminal and civil outcomes.

When to Involve Civil Courts Alongside Criminal Action

Even when law enforcement is involved, it’s often in your best interest to pursue civil remedies at the same time. Criminal prosecution focuses on punishing the offender — civil action focuses on compensating you for the harm.

You may consider a civil suit if:

• You’ve experienced lost income, job opportunities, or reputational damage
• You’ve incurred therapy costs or relocation expenses
• You want to stop further sharing with enforceable court orders
• The offender isn’t prosecuted criminally, but you still want accountability

Civil courts in New York recognize emotional and financial damages in revenge porn cases. In many situations, filing both criminal and civil claims increases your chances of full justice.

We’ll help you decide whether to pursue both, and build a strategy that keeps the focus on your goals, not just the legal theory.

Horn Wright, LLP, Helps Victims Make the Right Calls Immediately

When intimate content is shared without your permission, you may only have a small window to act, and choosing the right path early can change everything. Whether you’re deciding who to notify first or wondering if you need a lawyer yet, our sexual abuse attorneys are here to guide you without pressure and without delay.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we’ve helped hundreds of victims make the right calls in the right order. Whether it’s the police, the platform, or a civil court, we’ll help you act with precision, protect your rights, and start your case from a position of strength. If you're ready to hire one of the best law firms in America, we’re ready to be your first, and most important, call.