Someone is threatening to post my nudes unless I pay. Is that illegal, and what do I do?
Being threatened with intimate images unless you pay? The threat alone is now a federal crime. What to do right now, who to contact, and why not to pay.
What a threat to publish actually means
This is any message where someone says they'll share intimate or sexual images of you unless you pay them or do what they say, by text, DM, email, or in an app. The images might be real, or AI-generated "nudes" built from an ordinary photo. Under the law, the threat counts either way.
The threat itself is now a federal crime
The TAKE IT DOWN Act, signed into federal law on May 19, 2025, makes it a crime to threaten to publish non-consensual intimate images, real or AI-generated, for the purpose of intimidation, coercion, extortion, or to cause mental distress. Penalties include fines and up to 2 years in prison for threatening an adult's real image, up to 3 years if a minor is involved, and up to 18 to 30 months for AI-generated threats. "They didn't actually post anything" is not a reason to brush it off.
What to do right now
Don't pay, and don't send anything else. Paying rarely makes it stop, and offenders often release the material regardless. Stop all contact. Save the evidence before you block: screenshots of the threats, messages, usernames, and timestamps. Tell one person you trust. Then report it.
How to report it
File with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or ic3.gov. Tell local police too, and name the TAKE IT DOWN Act specifically. If the person threatened is under 18, also report to NCMEC's CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST. If a platform ignores your removal request after 48 hours, file with the FTC at takeitdown.ftc.gov.
State laws add another layer
Most states criminalize sharing intimate images without consent, and some cover threats directly. Search "[your state] nonconsensual intimate image law" on an official .gov page. This is general information, not legal advice.
If you're worried it's already posted
Protect Privacy AI scans to detect non-consensual content, submits takedowns, and escalates when platforms don't respond. You can also get ahead of it with StopNCII.org (18+) or Take It Down from NCMEC (under 18), free tools that fingerprint your image on your own device without ever uploading it. If you need to talk to someone now, text TRUST to 741741, or call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative helpline at 1-844-878-2274.
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