Computer Crimes, Hacking Threatening me based on private pictures/videos

[legolas70]

Jurisdiction

Washington

My wife chanced upon some private compromising pictures/videos of mine from a past affair, by systematically rummaging through my articles without my permission. She is now threatening to publish the same online to humiliate me as well as verbally mention this to all our friends and family. What legal recourse do I have?

 

[mightymoose]

Have you considered begging for forgiveness?

Legal action will likely only result in that which you wish to prevent.

 

[justblue]

My wife chanced upon some private compromising pictures/videos of mine from a past affair, by systematically rummaging through my articles without my permission. She is now threatening to publish the same online to humiliate me as well as verbally mention this to all our friends and family. What legal recourse do I have?

So you cheated on her and actually had the ....audacity... to keep sex pictures and videos IN HER HOME of you and the mistress? It's really funny that you seem both surprised and offended that she found them and will tell all that will listen the truth about you.

"What legal recourse do I have?"

Hire an attorney when she files for divorce.

 

[Tax Counsel]

My wife chanced upon some private compromising pictures/videos of mine from a past affair, by systematically rummaging through my articles without my permission. She is now threatening to publish the same online to humiliate me as well as verbally mention this to all our friends and family. What legal recourse do I have?

Who took the pictures and videos? If you were the one who took them then her distribution of them without your consent may well violate your copyright in those pictures & videos. The problem is that you'd have to first register your copyright before you may sue, which of course would make them public for anyone to see and might draw a lawsuit from your lover in the process. Oh, and a copyright suit in federal court is expensive and likely to cost you more than you'd win. Taking it to trial would also publicly air the photos & videos, too, of course. So I'm not seeing this as a good route for you to take.

Next question: did your lover know about the pictures & videos, and do the videos have audio recording? You may have violated one or more laws in making those pictures & videos if you didn't have her consent. For example, audio recordings of private conversations are a crime in Washington state unless all parties to the conversation consented to it. So if these photos and/or videos violated the law having you or your wife make them public may result in criminal charges against you.

So what should you do? I suggest you make an appointment with a lawyer ASAP to see just how much trouble you may be in and how to best deal with it.

 

[shrinkmaster]

What you really have is relationship issues. Whether she takes this material and post it or not is not the issue here. Many sites forbid such postings especially the ones most people you know would see them. You need to decide if you want this marriage to continue or seek Divorce. If you want to save it then talk to her about counseling. In mean time try here as well to get advice from others (your peers) its free and there are no agendas or sales.

 

[legolas70]

The pictures were taken with the consent of everyone involved. I had actually talked this with my wife in a heart-to-heart some time back, but what I find is that she is now disseminating part of that information as well, behind my back.

 

[shrinkmaster]

... and you kept the material!

 

[zddoodah]

by systematically rummaging through my articles without my permission.

Please elaborate as to what this means.

Also keep in mind that there's at least a decent chance that the pictures/video/articles are community property.

She is now threatening to publish the same online to humiliate me as well as verbally mention this to all our friends and family. What legal recourse do I have?

If she is trying to get you to do something in exchange for not publishing them, you court report her to the police. However, the police may decline to get involved in what sounds like a marital dispute. You could, I suppose, file for divorce and seek a temporary restraining order.

The problem is that you'd have to first register your copyright before you may sue, which of course would make them public for anyone to see

While deposit copies are available for public inspection/viewing/etc., one would would have to know something exists in order to request it. If Joe Blow registers his home movies for copyright, no one's going to know about it. Also, there is a procedure to request that a deposit copy not be required.

 

[P1776]

Washington has criminal statute against disclosing intimate images. This would obviously require you to file a police report if your wife publishes them without your permission. The other party could also do the same against your wife. If you took the images without the other girls permission, you could have some problems tangled there for yourself.

 

[Zigner]

Washington has criminal statute against disclosing intimate images.

Not arguing...but please cite the statue for reference.

 

[justblue]

Not arguing...but please cite the statue for reference.

Chapter 9A.86 RCW: DISCLOSING INTIMATE IMAGES

 

[P1776]

9A.86.010 – Disclosing intimate images ("revenge porn")

 

[army judge]

She is now threatening to publish the same online to humiliate me as well as verbally mention this to all our friends and family. What legal recourse do I have?

She is allegedly speaking about what she saw.

She has no restrictions on telling others that she observed you kissing the Tooth Fairy, rubbing the Fairy's wings, or playing with her pubescent tooth collection, for example.

If she posts the "naughty" videos or stills, WA state law offers a remedy for that action, ASSUMING it can be proven that your spouse posted the incriminating materials.

 

[Red Kayak]

My wife chanced upon some private compromising pictures/videos of mine from a past affair, by systematically rummaging through my articles without my permission. She is now threatening to publish the same online to humiliate me as well as verbally mention this to all our friends and family. What legal recourse do I have?

I think that you are missing the forest for the trees here. You are focusing on her breach of trust rather than the fact that there is no trust in this marriage.

Retain a divorce lawyer. Preferably one who can also address the issue of revenge porn.