How to Delete Porn Videos and Intimate Images of Yourself from the Internet: A Legal Guide

Are pornographic videos or intimate images of yourself online causing you anxiety and stress? Feeling overwhelmed by the desire to erase this content to protect your privacy rights and well-being?

As an experienced internet attorney who has helped countless clients in your situation, I understand that the presence of such content online can be extremely stressful. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the legal process of removing adult content from the Internet so you can reclaim control and move forward with your life.

Why Do People Seek to Remove Pornographic Videos of Themselves Online?

Having explicit sexual content published on the Internet can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. Victims of non-consensual image sharing, in particular, often suffer severe anxiety, depression, and shame. Many creators and victims worry that the videos will be discovered by family, friends, dating prospects, and employers, potentially tainting how they are perceived. Reputational harm can lead to lost relationships, jobs, and opportunities. The mental anguish can feel insurmountable.

You may have been underage, coerced, or unaware you were being filmed. Even if you consented to the original recording, you may have never agreed to have it broadcast online to millions. Or you may have agreed to create such content in the past but now want it removed for whatever reason.

Regardless of the circumstances, you have a right to privacy and to not be exploited or harassed over the presence of adult content online. Wanting the videos removed is a valid and understandable response to a traumatic violation of your trust and privacy rights. You are not alone, and you deserve support to get through this. Whether you agreed to create such content in the past but now want it removed for whatever reason or if you are the victim of non-consensual image sharing (“revenge porn”), we are here to offer you judgment-free help in regaining control over your digital life.

Why is it So Difficult to Erase Porn Videos from the Internet?

• Porn sites are incentivized to ignore removal requests as content drives traffic and profits.
• Videos spread rapidly as users download and re-upload clips across many sites and forums.
• Jurisdictional issues arise when content is hosted in countries with lax intellectual property laws.
• Creators and victims may not hold the copyright, having signed it away or never obtained it from the producer.
• Webmasters often hide behind anonymous domain registrations, making them hard to track.
• Uploaders may feel emboldened by the perceived anonymity of the Internet to behave unethically.
• Websites claim no liability for user-generated content under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
• Shame and embarrassment deter creators and victims from fighting back, so offenders face few repercussions.

While these obstacles are daunting, please don’t lose hope. With the right strategy and legal allies, removing even widespread pornographic content is an attainable goal. At Minc Law, we have a high success rate in getting this material deindexed from Google and removed at the source. We know what it takes to effectively navigate this complex process to restore your privacy and peace of mind.

How Can You Legally Force Porn Sites to Remove Your Videos?

The most powerful tool for compelling the removal of pornographic content is copyright law. Typically, you cannot sue a website that has your content, even if you are a victim of revenge porn or non-consensual image sharing.

However, if you took the photos or videos, you likely own the copyright to the content and can send DMCA takedown notices to the sites. A DMCA takedown notice requires US-based websites to delete the content that you hold the copyright to. If the site ignores a valid notice, it risks losing its “safe harbor” protection under the DMCA and can be sued for copyright infringement.

Even if you don’t currently own the copyright to the content, we can still help you remove the content. If you did not consent to creating or distributing your image online, this is a form of non-consensual image sharing. Currently, 48 states and the District of Columbia have laws against non-consensual image distribution—such laws incentivize sites to remove content that was shared without a person’s consent.

If you or anyone else in the content is under the age of 18 in the content, this is considered child pornography. Porn websites know that child pornography is a serious crime, which helps encourage them to remove such content.

Even if you agreed to create and distribute the content, we can help you obtain the rights to help facilitate removal. We often negotiate with producers to transfer the copyright to you via an attorney-drafted copyright assignment agreement. In cases where we can’t acquire the copyright, we can explore alternative legal angles like invasion of privacy, right of publicity violations, or harassment to pressure sites to comply with removal requests.

Every case is unique, but we are committed to finding creative solutions to your needs.

What’s the Process for Tracking Down And Removing Intimate Content From the Internet?

1. Conduct a comprehensive online investigation to locate all instances of your content. We combine manual searches, reverse image lookup technology, and forensic analysis to uncover videos and images across websites, forums, torrent sites, social media, and more.
2. Capture time-stamped screenshots and archive URLs of every location where your content appears. Meticulous documentation ensures we can sue any site for ignoring a takedown notice.
3. Identify the site owner, webmaster, and hosting company for each instance of your content. We scour website records, domain registrations, and business filings to track down the responsible parties, even if they use privacy services to conceal their identity.
4. Send a stern DMCA takedown notice via email and certified mail to the site owner and web host, clearly identifying the infringing content and demanding immediate removal. We carefully follow DMCA requirements to make the notice legally enforceable.
5. Negotiate with site representatives who often try to stall, ignore, or refuse removal requests. We are skilled at countering common objections and applying legal pressure when needed to compel compliance.
6. We monitor sites to ensure your content is deleted and doesn’t reappear. We stay vigilant in this ongoing process, as content can resurface on other sites or under new URLs.
7. Escalate by taking further appropriate legal actions against any site that still refuses to honor a valid DMCA takedown. We are ready to pursue all necessary measures to achieve your removal goals.

How Long Does Porn Video Removal Take and How Successful Is It?

I’ll be straight with you – removing pornographic content from the Internet is rarely a quick fix. Tracking down all the videos, images, and clips across multiple sites and getting them taken down can take several months to a year or more, depending on how widely they spread.

However, that doesn’t mean you are powerless in the meantime. We can quickly file DMCA notices with significant porn sites and search engines to get the most visible instances of your content taken down or at least deindexed from search results. This can provide immediate relief and damage control while we work on the long game.

It’s also important to understand that no attorney can honestly guarantee the removal of every single copy of your content. The Internet is too vast, and there will always be some rogue sites and users who manage to evade takedown efforts. But we can and do achieve a significant reduction in the availability and accessibility of your pornographic content—enough to substantially diminish any ongoing harassment and reputational harm.

We have had success removing revenge porn, sex tapes, and other non-consensual explicit content for our clients – even in cases initially deemed “unwinnable.” For example, we had a client whose abusive partner coerced her into filming sexual acts. Even though the content had spread to hundreds of “tube” sites and torrent networks, we purged most of it from the web within nine months. We acquired the copyright from the producer, filed hundreds of DMCA takedowns, and won several cases against revenge porn sites.

While not every case is such a clear-cut victory, we approach each with the same level of zealous advocacy, creative problem-solving, and commitment to achieving your removal goals. We understand that healing from this traumatic experience takes time, and we are here to support you through each step and setback.

You don’t have to go through this alone. As your dedicated advocate, my goal is to remove the content and help you feel a sense of justice, empowerment, and peace. I encourage you to reach out for a confidential consultation. Together, we can develop a personalized strategy to reclaim your privacy and start moving forward again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Remove My Porn Videos From the Internet for Free?

It’s challenging to remove pornographic content from the Internet on your own without any legal assistance. Most of the time, you must assert a valid copyright or privacy claim to get sites to comply with removal requests. Experienced attorneys can effectively negotiate with sites, file DMCA takedowns, and even sue if needed – which is challenging for the average person to handle solo. While you may be able to get some content removed for free, widespread removal often requires professional legal help.

However, if a website requires you to pay a processing or other fee to take any action on your behalf, consult with an attorney. This is unethical, if not unlawful, conduct.

Does It Matter if I Signed a Release or Was Paid to Appear in the Porn Content?

Not necessarily. Even if you signed a release or were compensated, you may still have a right to remove the content if your copyright or privacy rights are being violated. For example, the release may be invalid if you were underage, intoxicated, coerced, or misled when you signed it. The producer may also be misusing your content beyond what you originally agreed to. An attorney specializing in this area can review contracts and help you understand your options.

How Can I Get Porn Videos of Myself Removed From Google Search Results?

The quickest way to get pornographic content removed from Google search results is to file a DMCA takedown notice with Google. If you own the copyright to the videos, Google is legally required to deindex any infringing URLs you report in your notice. This won’t delete the content from the original site, but it will make it much harder to find via searching.

If you don’t own the copyright, you can still request Google to remove the content from search results, but it’s not guaranteed. You’ll have to argue why the content violates your privacy rights or is otherwise unlawful. Revenge porn, non-consensual intimate images, and content involving minors have a decent chance of being deindexed.

I’m Underage in the Porn Videos. Does This Help My Chances of Getting It Removed?

Yes, absolutely. If you were under 18 when the pornographic content was created, this is considered child sexual abuse material and is illegal under federal law. You can file a report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) as well as the FBI to get the content removed and potentially prosecute the offender. Websites and search engines are also much more compliant in removing content involving minors.

What if I’m Being Harassed, Bullied, or Blackmailed Over the Porn Content?

If you are experiencing harassment, threats, intimidation, blackmail, or other abusive behavior related to your pornographic content, it’s critical to work with an attorney. This conduct can constitute a crime as well as provide additional support for your removal claims. We can help you document the harassment to build a stronger case for removal. In some cases, we may be able to unmask the anonymous harasser and take legal action against them.

We Can Help

Navigating the removal of pornographic videos and intimate images from the Internet can be a stressful and daunting process. However, with the proper legal guidance and strategies, it is possible to reclaim your privacy and protect your well-being. At Minc Law, our experienced internet attorneys are dedicated to helping you through every step of this journey, providing personalized solutions to ensure your content is removed effectively. Remember, you don’t have to face this challenge alone – reach out to us for a confidential consultation and let us help you regain control over your digital life.