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Crime & Justice • Cybercrime

Revenge Porn

Revenge porn is the non-consensual distribution of sexually explicit images or videos of a person, usually to humiliate, harass, or retaliate against them.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Revenge porn, also known as non-consensual pornography or intimate image abuse, is the distribution of sexually explicit images or videos of a person without their consent, typically to humiliate, harass, or retaliate against them. The term is commonly used for what many authorities now call non-consensual intimate image distribution. Perpetrators may include current or former partners, but images can also be obtained through hacking or other means.

Definition

Revenge porn is commonly defined as the distribution of private sexual images or videos without consent, typically to embarrass or harm the person depicted. Major reference sources also describe it as non-consensual pornography.

Motives and methods

The conduct is often associated with retaliation after a relationship ends, but it can also be used for blackmail, intimidation, or general harassment. The images may be obtained legitimately in a relationship or unlawfully through hacking or device access.

Many jurisdictions have created specific offences or civil remedies for non-consensual image sharing. Some modern laws use broader terms such as intimate image abuse or non-consensual intimate image distribution rather than revenge porn.

Impact on victims

The harm can include humiliation, emotional distress, reputational damage, and wider real-world consequences such as workplace or social fallout. Some policy sources describe the abuse as closely connected to sexual abuse and other forms of technology-facilitated abuse.

Key facts

  • Revenge porn involves sexually explicit images or videos shared without the person's consent.
  • The material is often posted online but can also be shared by text, email, or shown directly to others.
  • An ex-partner is a common source, but not the only possible perpetrator.
  • Some sources note that the term can be misleading because the motive is not always revenge.
  • Legal treatment varies by jurisdiction, but many places criminalize or otherwise restrict the conduct.
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Canadian context

In Canada, the issue is commonly discussed as non-consensual intimate image sharing or intimate image abuse, and it is relevant to Canadian privacy, criminal, and online-safety discussions.

Frequently asked questions

What is revenge porn?
It is the sharing of sexually explicit images or videos of a person without their consent, usually to shame, harass, or retaliate against them.
Is revenge porn always about revenge?
No. Some authorities note that the term is imprecise because the motive may be coercion, harassment, blackmail, or profit rather than revenge.
Is revenge porn the same as non-consensual pornography?
They are closely related terms. Non-consensual pornography is a broader term, and revenge porn is commonly used for one form of it.
How are the images usually shared?
Common methods include posting on websites or social media, sending by text or email, or showing the material directly to others.
Is revenge porn illegal?
It is illegal in many jurisdictions, but the exact rules, penalties, and remedies vary by country or region.
Why is the term controversial?
Because it can imply the victim consented to the original images and that the motive was revenge, even though neither is always true.

References

  1. European Institute for Gender Equality — https://eige.europa.eu/publications-resources/thesaurus/terms/1459?language_content_entity=en
    Supports: Defines revenge porn as online distribution of sexually graphic photographs or videos without consent and notes that perpetrators may be ex-partners or others.
  2. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/revenge-porn
    Supports: Provides a concise definition of revenge porn as sharing private sexual photos or videos without permission to embarrass or upset someone.
  3. UK Government — https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80be45ed915d74e33fc281/revenge-porn-factsheet.pdf
    Supports: Describes revenge porn as sharing private sexual materials without consent and for embarrassment or distress, and notes it can occur online or offline.
  4. The Hotline — https://www.thehotline.org/resources/revenge-porn/
    Supports: Explains the practice as nonconsensual distribution of nude or sexually explicit images/videos and notes the term 'nonconsensual distribution of intimate images'.
  5. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revenge%20porn
    Supports: Defines revenge porn as sexually explicit images posted online without consent, especially as a form of revenge or harassment.
  6. Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/Nonconsensual_pornography_(revenge_porn)_laws_in_the_United_States
    Supports: States that nonconsensual pornography refers to distribution of sexual or pornographic images without consent and notes the existence of U.S. federal and state legal responses.