Removing porn videos after consent: understanding your rights and UK privacy law
Many people who once gave consent to appear in adult content later regret their decision, especially when that content is still circulating years later. This article explores whether consent can be withdrawn and the legal options available in the UK for getting porn videos removed from the internet.
A client’s struggle to remove porn videos after giving consent
The lasting impact of giving consent to porn videos
Can you undo consent for porn videos years later
Legal help for removing adult content from the internet
Why some porn videos stay online despite legal action
Reclaiming digital identity and dignity after adult content
A client’s struggle to remove porn videos after giving consent
In 2017, a young man in his mid-twenties agreed to appear in several adult videos. The shoots took place over a few weeks in Manchester, arranged by well-known UK and US production companies.
At the time, the performer, who used a stage name, was told the content would appear only on DVD or behind paywalls on small adult websites. He was paid a modest fee and promised it would boost his fledgling acting career. Fast-forward eight years and that same content is circulating across the internet.
Worse, the videos are being re-released and re-promoted by the original production companies and third-party affiliate sites as though they are recent content, despite being nearly a decade old. The performer, now trying to rebuild his life and career, has found himself targeted, harassed and deeply affected by the digital afterlife of a decision he now bitterly regrets.
This was the situation facing our client, who came to us sto get back control over his digital identity and to finally remove the explicit content from the internet.
The lasting impact of giving consent to porn videos
Our client believed he had signed standard model releasessigned standard model releases and assumed the videos would have a limited shelf-life. He didn’t read the contracts in detail, and no independent legal advice was ever offered. He was handed paperwork on arrival and told to sign it minutes before filming began. At the time, he was living in the studio where the filming occurred and had been heavily influenced by one of the producers, who presented the opportunity as a pathway into the entertainment industry.
The reality couldn’t have been further from the promise. The videos were distributed to multiple platforms and online sites, including free-to-view platforms like Pornhub. His image became a meme, strangers messaged him online, and the content surfaced even in his small and religious home community in rural Ireland.
Though he used a pseudonym, people still found him. At one point, he searched online and saw his face appear just by Googling "Irish gay porn star." This led to years of mental health struggles, self-loathing and multiple suicide attempts. And the worst part? The content was being actively re-shared and repackaged, even after he pleaded with the producers to stop.
Can you undo consent for porn videos years later
This case raised a key issue that many people face after appearing in explicit content: what happens when consent was given under pressure, without proper understanding, and with no legal advice? Can you ever get that content removed? The answer is yes- but it depends on the circumstances.
In simple terms, the circumstances can include situations where the contract you signed was unclear or misleading, where you felt pressured to take part, or where you were not given the chance to seek independent legal advice. It can also include cases where the company that owns the content no longer exists, meaning no one has the clear right to keep using your image.
In each of these scenarios, the law may allow you to challenge the consent you once gave and demand removal of the videos. Our legal team immediately examined whether the contracts were enforceable under current UK law. While consent was originally given, consent is not a forever waiver, especially where the terms were unclear, misleading or exploitative.
UK data protection and privacy laws have evolved significantly since 2017, particularly with the introduction of the UK GDPR and updated case law on misuse of private information. Even more crucially, we found that one of the companies that had produced the videos had since been dissolved, raising serious questions about the ownership of the intellectual property rights to the content. If no legal owner exists, the videos are potentially being distributed in breach of copyright and data protection laws.
Legal help for removing adult content from the internet
We launched a legal strategy combining multiple areas of law. First, we sent subject access requests under the UK GDPR to the companies involved, demanding they disclose all the data they held on our client (including contracts, communications, and identification materials). This helped us understand the extent of the breach and how they were processing his data.
We also sent formal legal letters asserting that the continued distribution of the videos constituted a breach of his right to private life, a misuse of personal data, and a breach of contract under common law. We proposed settlements that involved copyright transfers or legal takedown permissions.
In some cases, we were successful. One company acknowledged our client’s rights and agreed to instruct all its partner sites to remove the adult content. Another confirmed that they had stopped distributing the videos and committed to removing all traces of his stage name. In the end, we were able to secure widespread removal of the videos from major platforms.
Why some porn videos stay online despite legal action
Despite our efforts, some content remains on third-party platforms that are difficult to trace or are outside UK jurisdiction. Cases like this are rare, but when they occur, we hardly ever give up. As a last resort, we take steps to block searches for the videos or the performer’s name from appearing in internet search results and on the most commonly used porn platforms.
While we were able to propose a smart legal workaround- asking for permission to issue DMCA takedown notices ourselves using a limited licence from the copyright holder- this was unfortunately declined. Still, the progress made was significant, and for our client, it marked the first time he could breathe again without constantly looking over his shoulder.
Reclaiming digital identity and dignity after adult content
This case underscores how fragile and misleading adult content consent forms can be. The assumption that signing a waiver means the content can be used forever, anywhere, and by anyone, is legally outdated.
Individuals have strong protections under the right to be forgotten, the right to erasure, and the misuse of private information tort, especially when the content impacts mental health, future employment, or personal safety.
If you appeared in explicit content in the past and are now struggling with its ongoing distribution online, you are not alone and you have options. Even if you were paid, even if you signed something, there may still be legal pathways to remove the content and reclaim your dignity.
Lawyer’s thought on this case
This was one of the most emotionally intense and legally rewarding cases we’ve worked on. It combined privacy law, intellectual property, and human rights. What stood out was how old content was being manipulated to appear recent, giving the illusion that our client was still active in the industry.
This wasn’t just a case of embarrassment, it was a threat to his safety and well-being. We were especially proud to achieve extensive removals even without full ownership of the copyright. That’s because the law recognises that dignity matters more than profit, and that people have the right to move on from decisions made in difficult times.
We believe this case points to a need for reform. There must be stronger legal frameworks to protect those who regret their participation in the adult industry and want to exit it. Consent should be informed, not coerced, and content should not follow people for the rest of their lives.
