{"id":353502,"date":"2019-10-23T14:56:22","date_gmt":"2019-10-23T19:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/online-photos-taken-and-posted-without-your-permission.html"},"modified":"2023-08-14T08:15:35","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T13:15:35","slug":"online-photos-taken-and-posted-without-your-permission","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/online-photos-taken-and-posted-without-your-permission.html","title":{"rendered":"Online Photos Taken and Posted Without Your Permission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Online Photos Taken and Posted Without Your Permission<\/h1>\n\n
\n
\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Some photos taken or posted without consent may be an invasion of privacy. Others might more specifically violate intellectual property or revenge porn laws. Your options depend on the content of the photo and when or where it was taken.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Even photos taken with<\/i> your consent can cause stress when they show up online. But what if someone takes a picture with you in the background, or without asking your permission first? Do you have the right to tell them to take it down? What can you do if they refuse?<\/p>\n

Whether it’s a shot that shows you letting loose at a bar, a photo with a bad review of you at work, or a family gathering with\u00a0pictures of your minor children<\/a>, photos taken and posted without your permission can be worrying. You may want to have these pictures taken down right away. Perhaps you think your only option is to threaten the original poster with a lawsuit.<\/p>\n

The actions you can take depend on many factors. The article below describes whether there are laws against posting pictures without consent and when they apply. FindLaw’s directory can help guide you toward a personal injury attorney<\/a> if you need one. You can choose your state to see ratings and contact information for local lawyers who can pursue invasion of privacy claims.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

When Is Posting a Photo of Someone Illegal?<\/h2>\n

Taking or posting a photo without permission can violate the subject’s legal rights in a variety of circumstances. Most of these cases involve civil law. Yet sometimes, posting a photo of someone can even be a crime.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While\u00a0photos on Facebook<\/a>\u00a0or other social media sites may be uncomfortable and frustrating, the poster may be protected from legal action to remove them.\u00a0The First Amendment<\/a>\u00a0protects their right to share images, but the Supreme Court has said that freedom of speech doesn’t always provide protection.<\/p>\n

A nonconsensual photo might not have free speech protection if it:<\/p>\n