Revenge Porn Laws in North Dakota: What Victims Need to Know in 2026
What North Dakota Law Says
North Dakota addresses revenge porn under North Dakota Century Code Section 12.1-17-07.2, titled "Distribution of intimate images without or against consent." The offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor.
A Class A misdemeanor in North Dakota carries penalties of up to 360 days in jail and fines up to $3,000. The law was enacted to address the distribution of nonconsensual intimate images and provides criminal consequences for offenders who share private sexual content without permission.
Review the statute at the North Dakota Legislature website.
What Counts as Revenge Porn in North Dakota
North Dakota's statute defines the offense through these elements. The content must be an intimate image depicting a person in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct. The image was obtained in circumstances where the depicted person had a reasonable expectation of privacy. The offender knowingly distributed the image. The distribution was without the consent of the depicted person or against the express wishes of the depicted person.
North Dakota's inclusion of distribution "against express wishes" provides additional protection for victims who specifically asked that images not be shared. The law covers all distribution methods, including social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, websites, messaging applications, and email.
How to Report
North Dakota victims should take these steps:
- Document all evidence — Screenshot images, save URLs, record account information, and preserve all communications.
- File a police report — Contact your local police department, county sheriff, or the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Reference NDCC 12.1-17-07.2.
- Contact the state's attorney — Each county has a state's attorney who handles criminal prosecutions.
- Report to the FBI — File with the FBI IC3 for internet-based distribution.
- Seek a protection order — North Dakota courts can issue protection orders that address ongoing harassment and distribution.
Limitations of Criminal Law
North Dakota's sparse population and vast geography mean that law enforcement resources for digital crimes are limited, particularly in rural areas. The misdemeanor classification may result in lower prosecution priority. The criminal process is slow relative to the speed at which images spread online.
A conviction does not trigger automatic content removal. Courts can order defendants to take down content they posted, but cannot compel third-party platforms. Anonymous offenders and cross-jurisdictional cases present significant investigation challenges.
Removing the Content
Content removal must proceed independently of criminal proceedings.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act requires platforms to remove NCII within 48 hours of a valid request.
StopNCII.org provides a hashing tool that participating platforms use to block intimate images.
IntimaShield offers professional NCII removal services covering multi-platform takedowns, search engine de-indexing, and ongoing monitoring.
See also: Minnesota's revenge porn law for a neighboring state comparison.
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