Online sexual abuse is an increasingly prevalent issue in today’s digital world.

With the rise of social media, messaging apps, and other online platforms, predators have found new ways to exploit vulnerable individuals. Survivors of online sex abuse in New York have legal options to seek justice and hold perpetrators accountable.

Survivors of online sexual abuse often feel isolated and unsure of their rights. However, New York law provides legal avenues for survivors to pursue compensation and legal action against abusers, platforms, and institutions that enable such harm.

You need a lawyer who understands these laws to obtain justice and protection.

What Is Online Sexual Abuse?

Online sexual abuse encompasses a broad range of exploitative behaviors facilitated through the internet.

It may involve:

• Sexual harassment through digital communication, including explicit messages, unwanted advances, or persistent stalking.
• Revenge porn, where perpetrators share explicit images or videos without consent.
• Online grooming, where predators manipulate survivors into engaging in sexual conversations or sharing explicit images.
• Sexual extortion (sextortion), where perpetrators threaten to share private images unless demands are met.
• Child sexual exploitation, including the possession, distribution, or solicitation of child pornography.
• Non-consensual deepfake pornography, where perpetrators create AI-generated explicit content using a survivor’s likeness.

Each of these acts may constitute a criminal offense and a civil rights violation under New York law.

New York Laws Protecting Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse

New York has strict laws to prevent and punish online sexual abuse. Some of the most relevant statutes include:

New York Penal Law § 250.45 – Unlawful Surveillance

This law criminalizes recording or distributing sexually explicit material of a person without their consent. This applies to revenge porn cases and unauthorized recordings of intimate acts.

New York Penal Law § 245.15 – Unlawful Dissemination of an Intimate Image

This statute directly addresses revenge porn, making it illegal to share or publish explicit images of someone without their consent. Survivors may seek criminal and civil penalties against perpetrators.

New York Cyberstalking and Harassment Laws

Online harassment, including persistent unwanted messages, threats, and sexually explicit communications, is punishable under New York’s cyberstalking and harassment laws.

Federal Laws Protecting Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse

In addition to New York state laws, federal statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 2252 (Child Exploitation Offenses) and the Communications Decency Act provide additional protections for survivors.

Federal civil lawsuits may be filed against perpetrators and online platforms that negligently allow abuse to occur.

Who Can You Hold Liable in an Online Sexual Abuse Case?

Legal action for online sexual abuse is not limited to the direct perpetrator. Under New York law, you may hold multiple parties accountable for enabling or facilitating abuse.

• The individual abuser – Those who engage in online sexual abuse can face criminal charges and civil lawsuits.
• Social media platforms and websites – Companies that fail to remove exploitative content or ignore reports of abuse may face liability for negligence.
• Employers and institutions – If an employee engages in online sexual abuse using workplace resources, you can hold employers responsible for failing to prevent harm.
• Schools and universities – If online sexual abuse occurs within educational settings, institutions may face Title IX lawsuits for failing to protect students.

Legal Remedies for Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse in New York

Survivors of online sexual abuse may pursue multiple legal avenues to seek justice.

Filing a Civil Lawsuit

Survivors may file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator, seeking damages for:

• Emotional distress
• Financial losses due to blackmail or extortion
• Psychological trauma
• Lost wages and therapy costs

Seeking a Protective Order

New York law allows survivors of online stalking and harassment to obtain a restraining order against their abuser.

Filing a Criminal Complaint

New York prosecutors can charge perpetrators under state and federal laws for crimes related to online sexual abuse. While a criminal conviction does not result in compensation for survivors, it can constitute evidence in a civil lawsuit.

How Long Do Survivors Have to File a Lawsuit?

New York’s statute of limitations determines how long survivors have to file legal claims.

• For civil lawsuits involving sexual abuse, New York allows survivors until age 55 to file a claim.
• For online harassment or defamation, survivors generally have one to three years, depending on the claim.
• For cases involving minors, time limits may increase, allowing survivors to file lawsuits later in life.

You need a lawyer who understands these deadlines, as missing the statute of limitations may prevent you from seeking justice.

What to Do If You Are a Survivor of Online Sexual Abuse

If you experience online sexual abuse, take immediate action to protect your rights:

1. Preserve Evidence – Save screenshots, messages, and emails that document the abuse.
2. Report the Abuse – Contact law enforcement and report the abuse to social media platforms or websites.
3. Seek Legal Advice – A lawyer can advise you on an effective legal strategy for your situation.
4. Consider a Restraining Order – If the abuse involves threats or stalking, legal protections may be necessary.
5. File a Lawsuit – If applicable, an attorney can help you file a civil claim for damages.

Taking legal action against perpetrators, institutions, or platforms that enable abuse can prevent future harm and hold wrongdoers accountable.

Can Online Sex Abuse Lead to a Defamation Lawsuit?

In some cases, online sexual abuse may involve false accusations, revenge porn, or harmful statements that damage a person’s reputation.

Under New York defamation laws, survivors may sue for libel or slander if:

• Someone spreads false and damaging statements about them online.
• A perpetrator shares explicit images with false claims.
• An employer or institution fails to take action against defamatory abuse.

Defamation lawsuits related to online sex abuse can help restore a survivor’s reputation and secure compensation for emotional distress and professional damage.

What Legal Options Exist for Survivors of Online Sexual Coercion?

Sexual coercion, or sextortion, involves a perpetrator using threats, blackmail, or manipulation to force a survivor into sending explicit material.

Under New York law, sextortion may fall under:

• Cyberstalking laws, which criminalize repeated online harassment.
• Blackmail statutes, making it illegal to threaten someone in exchange for sexual favors or explicit content.
• Revenge porn laws, if the perpetrator threatens to release intimate images.

Survivors can file both criminal charges and civil lawsuits against their abuser to recover damages for emotional distress, lost wages, and legal costs.

Are Social Media Platforms Liable for Online Sex Abuse?

Social media platforms play a major role in online sexual abuse cases, as predators often use messaging apps, dating sites, and social networks to target survivors.

While these platforms have moderation policies, they may still face legal action if they:

• Fail to remove reported abusive content in a timely manner.
• Ignore repeated complaints from users about harassment.
• Allow known predators to create new accounts after being banned.

While Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally protects tech companies from liability for user-generated content, some exceptions exist for criminal conduct, child exploitation, and cases of negligence.

Some lawsuits have successfully held platforms accountable when they failed to act on reports of abuse.

How Can Employers Be Held Liable for Online Workplace Harassment?

Online sexual abuse is not limited to social media—it can also occur in professional settings through workplace messaging systems, emails, and digital harassment.

You may hold employers liable under New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act if:

• A supervisor or coworker engages in online sexual harassment.
• The employer fails to address complaints or take disciplinary action.
• The abuse creates a hostile work environment, leading to emotional distress or job loss.

Survivors of online workplace sexual abuse can file a civil lawsuit or an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claim to seek compensation.

What Role Do Digital Forensics Play in Online Sex Abuse Cases?

Proving online sexual abuse requires strong digital evidence, which is why lawyers may involve forensic experts in legal cases.

Digital forensics specialists can:

• Recover deleted messages, emails, and call logs.
• Analyze metadata to determine when and where perpetrators created the content.
• Track IP addresses and online activity to identify anonymous perpetrators.

Strong forensic evidence can establish liability and prove damages in a civil lawsuit.

How Does New York Law Protect Minors from Online Sexual Exploitation?

New York has specific protections for minors who experience online sexual abuse. These include:

• The Child Survivors Act, which extends the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood abuse.
• Mandatory reporting laws, requiring teachers, doctors, and social workers to report suspected online exploitation.
• State and federal laws criminalizing child pornography, grooming, and trafficking.

Parents of minor survivors can file lawsuits on their child’s behalf against both perpetrators and institutions that failed to prevent the abuse.

Can Survivors Sue for Emotional Distress in Online Sex Abuse Cases?

Survivors of online sexual abuse often suffer severe emotional distress.

Under New York law, survivors may file a lawsuit for:

• Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) – If the perpetrator’s actions were extreme and outrageous.
• Negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) – If an institution or platform fails to prevent foreseeable harm.

These lawsuits can result in compensation for therapy, medication, and other mental health treatments.

How Can Survivors Protect Their Privacy When Filing a Lawsuit?

Many survivors of online sex abuse fear public exposure when taking legal action.

New York law provides privacy protections, including:

• Filing lawsuits under a pseudonym (“Jane Doe” or “John Doe”).
• Sealing court records to prevent public access.
• Requesting anonymity in legal proceedings to protect their identity.

An experienced New York online sex abuse lawyer can help ensure confidentiality while pursuing justice.

What If the Perpetrator Lives in Another State or Country?

Online sexual abuse often crosses state and international borders, making jurisdiction a legal challenge.

Survivors can still take action under:

• Federal internet crime laws, allowing cases to be prosecuted across state lines.
• International treaties, if the perpetrator is in another country.
• Civil lawsuits, which may be filed in the state where the survivor resides.

Legal teams often collaborate with federal agencies and cybercrime investigators to track down perpetrators in different jurisdictions.

How Can a Lawyer Help if the Abuse Involves Deepfake Technology?

The rise of AI-generated deepfake pornography has created new legal challenges for survivors.

Deepfake sexual abuse occurs when:

• An abuser creates explicit content using a survivor’s likeness without consent.
• AI-generated images or videos are distributed online, causing reputational harm.
• The survivor experiences extortion or emotional distress due to deepfake content.

Although New York law is still evolving, survivors may file civil lawsuits for invasion of privacy, defamation, and emotional distress.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Online Sexual Abuse?

Beyond immediate emotional distress, survivors of online sexual abuse may suffer long-term consequences, including:

• Psychological trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
• Career damage, especially if explicit content affects their reputation.
• Relationship strain, as abuse survivors often struggle with trust and intimacy.

Legal action can help survivors secure financial compensation for therapy, lost wages, and other damages caused by the abuse.

What Compensation Can Survivors Seek in an Online Sex Abuse Lawsuit?

Survivors of online sexual abuse may recover substantial compensation for:

• Medical and mental health treatment costs.
• Lost income due to reputational harm.
• Pain and suffering for emotional distress.
• Punitive damages in cases involving severe negligence or malice.

A lawyer can assess the full impact of the abuse and fight for maximum compensation.

How a New York Online Sex Abuse Lawyer Can Help

An experienced New York online sex abuse lawyer can provide crucial support by:

• Investigating digital evidence, including social media records, metadata, and website logs.
• Identifying liable parties, including perpetrators, companies, and institutions.
• Filing civil lawsuits to seek financial compensation for survivors.
• Working with law enforcement to ensure criminal charges are pursued when appropriate.
• Protecting survivors’ privacy, ensuring legal proceedings do not cause further trauma.

Navigating an online sex abuse case is complex, but legal representation ensures that survivors receive the justice they deserve.

Contact a New York Online Sex Abuse Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been a survivor of online sexual abuse, you do not have to face this alone. Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP provides compassionate and aggressive legal representation for survivors in New York and beyond.

Our legal team is committed to holding abusers accountable and securing the compensation and justice survivors deserve.

Call (212) 779-0057 today for a confidential consultation with a New York online sex abuse lawyer.