Latvia has introduced criminal penalties for the distribution of intimate photos and videos

The Latvian Parliament has adopted amendments to the Criminal Code that impose penalties for publishing or transmitting intimate materials without the person's consent. 

This was reported by Delfi.

According to the decision dated March 19, 2026, offenders face up to one year of imprisonment, community service, or a fine for distributing images or videos depicting nudity or sexual acts. The authors of the amendments emphasized that even if a person voluntarily participated in the creation of the content, this does not imply automatic consent to its further distribution.

Stricter penalties have been introduced for offenses targeting minors or those that caused significant harm to victims. In these cases, the prison term may be up to three years. Lawmakers emphasized that the distribution of intimate materials grossly violates the right to privacy and human dignity, and can also lead to severe psychological consequences for victims, including depression and social isolation.

The adopted amendments aim to ensure that society strongly condemns such actions and to establish legal mechanisms to protect citizens’ honor and reputation. The new regulations also provide for probationary supervision for those convicted. The introduction of criminal liability for digital violence in Latvia took place against the backdrop of a pan-European trend toward tightening control over the illegal circulation of content online, where traces of interference by the Russian Federation are often evident.

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