Is sharing a photo of someone without permission illegal?

Asked by: Ms. Isabelle Stoltenberg  |  Last update: November 20, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (49 votes)

The sharing of intimate images or videos of someone without their consent violates their privacy and can cause harm. It can also be against the law. Consent means a conscious, voluntary agreement – free from force, fraud, misrepresentation, or coercion – to have intimate images or videos of you shared.

Can someone share my picture without my permission?

If anyone wants to use a photo that someone else owns copyright for, they need to have the permission of the person who owns it. This includes posting it online. If you think someone has been using a photo you own the copyright to without your permission, you could contact them.

Is it legal to post a picture of someone without consent?

Every day, new photos are uploaded to social media websites, often without the explicit consent of everyone in those pictures. However, sharing photos of someone else becomes an illegal act when that person sent you the photo with the expectation it would remain private, and the photo was intimate or sexual in nature.

Is it illegal to post a picture of a random person?

In California, it is generally legal for people to take photos of others in public spaces without their consent. However, posting these photos online to make fun of someone's medical condition could potentially constitute cyberbullying, harassment, or stalking, depending on the specific circumstances.

Is it illegal to repost someone's picture?

However, the act of taking a screenshot or reposting an image necessarily involves reproducing and publishing the original work. This will likely be a copyright infringement, unless you have the owner's permission.

Can you sue if someone posts a video or photo of you without your consent?

15 related questions found

Can you sue someone for sharing your pictures?

You can now bring a new type of federal civil lawsuit.

This lets you bring a civil action in federal court against someone who shared intimate images, explicit pictures, recorded videos, or other depictions of you without your consent (15 U.S.C. § 6851).

Do you need permission to publish a photo of someone?

What is a photo release consent form? You're welcome to take pictures of whatever you want, but you're not allowed to publish photos of people, places, or property without consent from the owner. That's where a photo release comes in.

Is it illegal to expose someone on social media?

The California legislature passed a law in 2008 which makes it illegal to post harmful information on the internet. Penal Code 653.2 states it is a crime to post about other people on the internet in a way that will cause them harm.

What can I do if someone posts a picture of my child without permission?

Taking Down Posted Images
  1. Contact the website. If you notice someone else has posted a photograph of your child without your permission, immediately contact the website and ask about protocol for removing the photo. ...
  2. Request the publisher crop the photo. ...
  3. Seek a children's rights lawyer.

Is it illegal to screenshot a photo of someone?

Generally speaking, it is unlikely that taking a screenshot of a photograph without the subject's permission would be considered illegal unless it infringes on their privacy or could cause them harm. When the photograph is considered copyrighted material, taking a screenshot of it would be regarded as unlawful.

What is it called when you post a picture without permission?

Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

10175) also comes into play when pictures are posted online without permission. Under this law, cyber libel and identity theft are punishable offenses. Posting an image with malicious intent, such as to defame, harass, or threaten the subject, could be considered cyber libel.

What to do if someone shares private photos?

You need to:
  1. report the picture to the website and let them know the situation.
  2. untag yourself if possible - this is where you remove a tag identifying you in the picture.
  3. contact the person who shared the image and ask them to take it down.
  4. get a list of everyone or every site that has shared pictures.

Can you sue someone for posting a video of you without your permission?

You might successfully sue another party who has intruded on your expectation of privacy, such as shooting a video while you are at home or in another private setting where privacy is expected by every individual at the setting. Another party cannot shoot a video to use your name and likeness without your permission.

What to do if someone posted a picture of you without your permission on Facebook?

Facebook provides a number of ways for people to report imagery that they believe violates their privacy. The quickest way to report abuse is by using the Find Support or Report links located near the photo or video that you want to report.

What is the fair use law for images?

Fair Use - Most teaching- and paper-writing uses of images fall under the famous “fair use” provision (single use for scholarly purposes). Basically, fair use allows academics to use even copyrighted materials a single time to a limited audience without securing the permission of the copyright holder.

What is it called when someone takes a picture of you without you knowing?

However, if the intent is that the subject is absolutely unaware of being photographed and does not even expect it, then such photography is secret photography, which is an extreme case of candid photography.

Can someone post a picture of me without my permission?

If someone posts your content (such as a photo) without your permission and without proper attribution, they may be liable for copyright infringement.

Can you go to jail for posting a picture of someone without permission?

Unless the content is in the public domain, someone who posts it without permission and/or attribution may be liable for copyright infringement. People also get in trouble for posting illegal pornography, including revenge porn.

Can I report a photo someone posted of my child?

Facebook and Instagram:

If a child is between 13 and 17, they must submit a request themselves. To remove photos from Facebook, fill out this form. To report an Instagram account that has shared photos of your child without your permission, fill out this contact form.

How to sue someone for posting a picture of you?

You could bring a lawsuit by accusing the defendant of an invasion of privacy by appropriation of your likeness, a process known as right to publicity. This law allows you to control and profit from the commercial use of your image, name and persona or your identity.

Is posting screenshots illegal?

Sharing screenshots of private conversations without the consent of the parties involved is not only wrong but may amount to certain civil and criminal liabilities. To begin with, it is an invasion of someone else's privacy which legally amounts to payment of damages.

Can you sue someone for exposing you?

Defamation is not a crime in most states, but it is a "tort" (a civil wrong, rather than a criminal wrong). The person who has been defamed (the "plaintiff") can sue the person who did the defaming (the "defendant") for damages.

Is sharing photos without permission illegal?

It's not a crime to send intimate images or videos of yourself privately to another person if you're both consenting adults. It's a crime to show intimate images or videos, send them to another person, upload them to a website, or threaten to do this, without your consent. This includes so called 'revenge porn'.

Can you sue someone for posting pictures of your child?

Currently, no law in California specifically addresses this question. It is up to a judge to decide on a case-by-case basis. In general, if there is proof that actual harm is being done or that the child is in danger as a result of the photos being posted, your ex could prevail in stopping you from posting.

What to do if someone posted a picture of you without your permission on Instagram?

We worked with the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative on this list of things that you can do and organisations that you can contact for support and advice.
  1. Document the post. You may need a record of the post if you decide to take further action. ...
  2. Report an Instagram post. ...
  3. Unfollow or block the person who posted it.