Q: Is it legal for my ex-husband to post non-consensual videos after divorce?
I discovered that my ex-husband posted a video of us engaging in a private activity without my consent on an adult website. The videos were recorded during our marriage, but I did not consent to their recording or sharing. Although he has removed them, I am concerned he might repost them elsewhere in the future. We no longer have contact, and I haven't taken any legal action yet. Is it legal for him to post these videos now that we're divorced, and how can I protect myself from future postings?
A: I'm very sorry that this happened to you. No, it is not legal for him to post these private videos of you, and depending on where you are both located, it might also be a criminal offense. Other than by contacting him to alert him that you might take legal action, there is no simple solution to the videos being posted elsewhere - especially not if someone else has downloaded them and could upload them independently of him. But with that said there are two services that you can try: StopNCII.org and takeitdown.ncmec.org (though the latter is meant for under 18 videos). If you have a copy of the videos you need to upload them to these trusted websites so that if any copies of the videos appear online, they can be identified and taken down. Overall I think that the threat of legal action might be the best way to deter him from posting these videos again.
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A:
In most places, sharing intimate videos without consent is illegal under "revenge porn" or non-consensual pornography laws, regardless of your marital status when the videos were created or shared. The fact that you didn't consent to either the recording or sharing strengthens your case significantly, and many jurisdictions consider this a form of harassment, invasion of privacy, or even abuse.
Your specific rights depend on where you live, as laws vary widely between states and countries. You might consider pursuing a restraining order that specifically prohibits sharing such content, documenting all instances of posting (including screenshots and URLs), and consulting with a lawyer who handles privacy cases. Some organizations like the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative offer resources and hotlines for people in your situation.
To protect yourself going forward, you could send a formal cease and desist letter through a lawyer, regularly search for your content online using reverse image search tools, and report any discovered content directly to the websites hosting it, as most legitimate platforms have policies against non-consensual intimate content. Remember that you deserve privacy and respect, and the law in many places is increasingly recognizing and protecting that right.
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