Revenge Porn Laws in Tennessee: What Victims Need to Know in 2026
What Tennessee Law Says
Tennessee addresses revenge porn under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-318, titled "Unlawful exposure." The law classifies the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images as a Class A misdemeanor.
A Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee carries penalties of up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and fines up to $2,500. For aggravated cases, including distribution of images of minors or distribution for commercial purposes, enhanced penalties apply. Tennessee's law addresses NCII distribution with meaningful criminal consequences.
Review the statute at the Tennessee Legislature website.
What Counts as Revenge Porn in Tennessee
Tennessee's statute defines the offense through these elements. The content must be an image depicting a person in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual activity. The image was obtained under circumstances where the depicted person had a reasonable expectation of privacy. The offender knowingly disseminated the image. The dissemination was without the effective consent of the depicted person. The offender acted with intent to cause emotional distress or with reckless disregard for whether emotional distress would result.
The law covers distribution through all media, including platforms like Instagram and Reddit, websites, messaging apps, and email. Tennessee's "effective consent" standard and the inclusion of reckless disregard broadens the scope of the law.
How to Report
Tennessee 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 or county sheriff. Nashville Metro Police, Memphis Police, and Knoxville Police have resources for digital crimes. Reference TCA 39-17-318.
- Contact the district attorney general — Each judicial district has a DA General who handles criminal prosecutions.
- Report to the FBI — File with the FBI IC3 for internet-based distribution.
- Seek an order of protection — Tennessee courts can issue protective orders addressing harassment and image distribution.
Limitations of Criminal Law
Tennessee's misdemeanor classification means cases may receive lower priority than felonies. The intent requirement — proving the offender acted to cause emotional distress or with reckless disregard — adds a prosecutorial burden. Investigation and prosecution take time while images remain online.
A conviction does not remove content from platforms. Identifying anonymous offenders and dealing with cross-jurisdictional distribution present ongoing challenges. Tennessee's law enforcement resources vary significantly between urban and rural areas.
Removing the Content
Content removal is essential and should be pursued immediately.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act requires platforms to remove NCII within 48 hours of a valid request.
StopNCII.org allows victims to create digital hashes that participating platforms use to block matching content.
IntimaShield provides professional NCII removal services covering multi-platform takedowns, search engine de-indexing, and ongoing monitoring.
See also: Georgia's revenge porn law for a neighboring Southeast state comparison.
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