How to remove porn videos from the internet after you gave consent
A growing concern among some of our clients is the unexpected reappearance of porn content online that was shared many years ago, often under very different expectations and circumstances. This case study is about one woman who faced this exact issue.
My old porn video has appeared online again, what can I do
Why are my old adult videos still online years later
What are my legal rights if someone uploads a porn video of me without permission
Can I remove adult content from the internet by owning the copyright
Is a signed adult release form always legally binding
Can I remove porn videos from the internet years later
The result: how we helped the client regain her privacy and peace of mind
My old porn video has appeared online again, what can I do
In her early twenties, our client, let’s call her Sarah, took part in a series of adult videos and images. At the time, she was living in a small town with limited work opportunities. She was approached by a modelling agency and eventually agreed to do solo adult content under the promise that it would only be published on one specific website.
She was given a single page to sign but wasn’t provided with any chance to read it, nor was she allowed to keep a copy. There was no legal advice offered, and the signing occurred in the photographer’s home, alone, with no witnesses.
Sarah then moved on, pursued a career in social work, started a family, and was thriving in a profession where trust, integrity, and a clean public image are essential. She had assumed that chapter of her life was long closed.
Suddenly, over a decade later, a friend contacted her and to show one of the videos had reappeared on Pornhub, and soon after, similar clips showed up on other major porn sites.
Why are my old adult videos still online years later
What Sarah faced is a common but deeply distressing problem. Many people who participated in adult content years ago were told their images would be limited to one platform, however, with the rapid sharing culture of the internet, that content often ends up copied and redistributed without permission.
Despite Sarah’s direct requests to Pornhub and other websites, the videos were repeatedly reuploaded. Some websites initially agreed to remove the content but later reinstated it after being shown documents from the original producer claiming copyright ownership. Other sites asked for intrusive proof of identity, including passport photos, before ignoring her entirely.
What are my legal rights if someone uploads a porn video of me without permission
This kind of situation raises several key legal concerns. The first is misuse of private information- the videos were never meant for broad public distribution, and certainly not for publication across unrelated third-party websites.
There's also a potential breach of data protection rights, especially since Sarah was never given a copy of the document she signed or told what it meant.
Finally, there's a strong case for harassment, given the repeated distress caused by ongoing publication despite her objections.
Another critical issue was consent. Even if Sarah initially consented to limited use of the videos, she never agreed to their circulation on sites like Pornhub or XHamster. Under UK law, consent for publication must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous and that was clearly not the case here.
Can I remove adult content from the internet by owning the copyright
Our team advised Sarah that to permanently remove the videos, we would need to target the root issue: ownership. While she was the sole person appearing in the content, the original production company claimed copyright. Without control over that copyright, Sarah’s power to have the videos taken down was limited.
We began by contacting the companies involved submitting detailed letters of claim citing breaches of privacy, data rights, and harassment. We also worked with search engines like Google to delist links from search results, however, as new sites continued to share the content, it became clear that the only permanent solution was to obtain ownership of the videos and images.
After tough negotiations, Sarah was able to purchase the copyright to all the content. This gave her legal grounds to send takedown notices (including DMCA notices) to any site unlawfully sharing her videos.
Is a signed adult release form always legally binding
If you, like Sarah, signed a contract under pressure, without legal advice, or didn’t understand what you were signing, that document might not be legally enforceable. In many cases, especially involving adult content, courts will assess whether the agreement or more precisely, the consent was fair and informed.
The law may be on your side if you were misled, coerced, or not given the time or understanding to make a truly informed choice. The legal concept of 'duress' includes being pressured to sign a document without adequate time, space, or support to consider your decision.
In this industry, it is unfortunately not uncommon for performers to be asked to sign release forms during make-up sessions, wardrobe changes, or immediately before filming often in environments designed to rush rather than support informed decisions.
This kind of pressured environment can render the consent legally invalid. Under UK law, such contracts may be considered unfair, and where privacy and data protection laws are also breached, the signer may have strong legal grounds to challenge the content's publication or demand its removal.
It is also important to understand that terms like 'release form' or 'consent form' can mean very different things to different people. What truly matters, however, is how the law interprets them. Under UK law, an agreement must be entered into freely and with full understanding of its implications. Consent must be specific, informed and unambiguous. A signature alone does not prove consent if the person signing was under duress, misled, or not given adequate time to reflect or seek legal advice.
If a release form was signed hastily, in a pressured environment, or without full disclosure, it may well be considered an unfair contract. The law also recognises the importance of data protection and privacy, and where those have been breached, it can override an otherwise signed document that fails to meet legal standards of fairness.
Can I remove porn videos from the internet years later
One of the fears people have is that it’s “too late” to do anything, especially if the videos are old, but the law doesn't always work that way. While time can complicate some legal matters, the ongoing nature of publication and the renewal of harm each time a video is viewed or reposted can keep your claim alive.
Also, porn production companies are often reluctant to go to court over old content. They have reputational concerns and legal risks of their own, especially if they’ve reused content beyond the originally stated platforms.
Furthermore, you may find that the original copyright owner no longer exists because the company went under or ceased operations. In such situations, there may be a legal opening to demand removal of the content directly from hosting platforms, or even seek acquisition or transfer of copyright to yourself. This can be especially powerful when the original rightsholder is defunct or no longer in a position to enforce or license the copyright.
The result: how we helped the client regain her privacy and peace of mind
Once Sarah secured copyright ownership, we were able to enforce the removal of her videos from multiple sites. With each takedown notice, she reclaimed a little more of her peace of mind. She was able to return her focus to her career and family without the constant fear that someone would discover her past through a search engine.
Lawyer’s thoughts on the case
This was one of those cases where the personal and professional stakes couldn’t have been higher. Our client was not looking for compensation, she simply wanted to protect her privacy and her future.
For our team, this case reaffirmed how powerful copyright ownership can be as a legal tool for regaining control. It also reminded us that it is possible to challenge unfair or misleading contracts- especially those involving intimate content. It is not only possible but often essential to question the validity of such agreements, particularly when they were signed under rushed or pressured circumstances. The law supports individuals who seek to assert their rights over their image, data, and personal dignity.
