When private images are weaponized, the law gives victims a path forward.
6851 Law represents people whose intimate images were shared, posted, threatened, or used to humiliate, control, extort, or punish them. We pursue civil claims under 15 U.S.C. § 6851 and related state-law remedies.
A federal civil remedy for nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images.
Section 6851 allows a depicted person to bring a civil lawsuit when an intimate visual depiction is disclosed without consent, subject to specific statutory requirements and exceptions. The statute can permit damages, injunctive relief, and other remedies depending on the facts.
Consent to create an image is not the same as consent to distribute it.
Image-based abuse is not one-size-fits-all.
Every case turns on the facts: who had the material, how it was obtained, who saw it, whether it remains online, and what evidence exists.
Images posted online
Websites, social accounts, anonymous accounts, fake profiles, forums, group chats, messaging apps, and reposting after takedown.
Threats and extortion
Threats to release intimate images unless the victim pays money, resumes a relationship, drops a complaint, or complies with demands.
Retaliation and harassment
Disclosure after a breakup, divorce, workplace dispute, rejected advance, criminal report, protective-order dispute, or other conflict.
Fast evidence preservation. Careful legal strategy. Serious litigation when needed.
These cases often move quickly. Screenshots disappear, accounts change names, websites move content, and defendants deny what happened. We focus on preserving proof, identifying the responsible parties, and choosing the remedy that best fits the client’s goals.
- Confidential intake. We learn what was shared, where it appeared, who may be responsible, and whether there are immediate safety or takedown concerns.
- Evidence preservation. We help identify what should be saved, including URLs, screenshots, account names, messages, metadata, witnesses, and platform communications.
- Legal assessment. We evaluate federal claims under § 6851, related state-law claims, potential defendants, damages, venue, and available injunctive relief.
- Action plan. Depending on the case, that may include demand letters, takedown efforts, emergency relief, filing suit, subpoenas, discovery, and trial preparation.
You can ask for help without sending the images.
Start with the basics: what happened, where the content appeared, when you learned about it, and whether you know who was responsible.
Questions survivors often ask first.
Do I have to file a police report before bringing a civil case?
Not necessarily. A civil case is separate from a criminal investigation. In some situations, a police report may help, but it is not always required before seeking civil relief.
What if I originally sent the image to the person who posted it?
That fact alone does not mean you consented to further disclosure. Many cases involve images that were voluntarily shared privately and later distributed without permission.
Can I sue if the post was anonymous?
Potentially. Anonymous posting creates proof issues, but litigation tools may allow subpoenas to platforms, hosts, phone providers, email providers, or other entities that can help identify responsible parties.
Can a court order removal?
Depending on the facts, the law may permit injunctive relief designed to stop continued disclosure, require removal, or prevent further distribution.
Will my name have to be public?
Courts sometimes permit plaintiffs in sensitive intimate image cases to proceed under a pseudonym. Whether that is available depends on the court, the facts, and the applicable legal standards.
Tell us what happened.
Use this form to start the conversation. Please do not upload or send intimate images through this form. We can discuss secure evidence handling after we review the basic facts.
Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not include urgent safety information that requires immediate emergency response.