# Sharing private photos in Georgia — Articles 157, 157¹ Unlawfully obtaining, keeping or spreading information about someone's private life or their personal data is a crime under Article 157 where it causes significant harm. Violating the secret of private life — intimate photos, for example — is a more serious crime under Article 157¹ and is punished even without harm. Spreading it on social media makes the penalty harsher. - Confidential - Georgian · English · Russian - Free first consultation - Courts of all instances ## Possible penalties WhenPenalty157 — obtaining, keeping or spreading private information or data (with significant harm)A fine, corrective labour up to 2 years, or up to 3 years in prison157 — the same, via the internet or social mediaA fine, corrective labour or up to 4 years in prison157¹ — obtaining, keeping or spreading the secret of private lifeImprisonment from 4 to 7 years157¹ — the same, via the internet or social mediaImprisonment from 5 to 8 years157¹ — for gain or repeatedlyImprisonment from 6 to 9 years157¹ — by a person obliged to protect the secret, or by abusing one's positionImprisonment from 7 to 10 years Penalties follow the current text of the Criminal Code of Georgia. In a specific case the outcome depends on the circumstances, compensation of damage, a plea agreement and other factors. ## What matters for the defence - What the information is — a secret of private life (157¹) or other private information (157) - Whether obtaining or sharing was really unlawful — for example, with consent - Who spread it — accounts, devices, digital traces - Under Article 157 — whether there was significant harm ## If you are accused or arrested - Use your right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer — from the first contact with the investigating authority - Don't sign any document you don't understand - You must be charged within 48 hours of arrest, and within the next 24 hours a court decides on a preventive measure - Decide on compensating the damage or settling with the victim together with your lawyer ## If you are a victim - Call 112 or go to the police or the prosecutor's office - Keep the evidence: photos, video, messages, receipts, witnesses' contacts - Ask for victim status — it gives you rights in the case, for example to be informed about its progress - You can claim compensation for the damage — a lawyer will help ## Questions & answers ### Someone threatens to post my intimate photo — what should I do? Don't pay and don't delete the messages. Keep the evidence and go to the police: threats, extortion and spreading the secret are separate crimes. A lawyer will also help get the content removed. ### What is the penalty for sharing private photos? For spreading a secret of private life — 4 to 7 years, via social media — 5 to 8 years, for gain — 6 to 9 years. ### Is making a secret recording a crime too? Recording or eavesdropping on a private conversation without permission is punished under Article 158. There is an exception if the recording was handed to investigators with information about another crime. ## Legal basis - [Criminal Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/16426) - [Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/90034) Official texts (in Georgian) — Legislative Herald of Georgia, matsne.gov.ge. Related practice area: [Cybercrime](https://mmlaw.ge/en/cybercrime-lawyer/) ## Related topics - [#Criminal law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - [#Online & digital](https://mmlaw.ge/en/cybercrime-lawyer/) - [#Your rights](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/what-to-do-if-detained/) - - [Cybercrime lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/cybercrime-lawyer/) - - [Unauthorised access to a computer system — Article 284](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/hacking-article-284/) - - [Computer crime for financial gain — Article 286¹](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/phishing-online-theft-article-286-1/) - - [Blackmail with private photos](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blackmail-private-photos/) - - [Criminal defence lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - - [Juvenile lawyer in Georgia: legal help for minors](https://mmlaw.ge/en/juvenile-justice-lawyer/) - - [Detained in Georgia? Your rights and what to do](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/what-to-do-if-detained/) - - [Police search in Georgia: your rights and what to do](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/police-search-your-rights/) Criminal law ## Crimes and penalties - [Unauthorised access to a computer system](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/hacking-article-284/) — Article 284 Unlawfully getting into someone else's account, email, phone or computer. From a fine to 6 years. - [Computer crime for financial gain](https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/phishing-online-theft-article-286-1/) — Article 286¹ Phishing, taking money with someone else's card or online banking, interfering with systems for money. Up to 11 years. --- Source: https://mmlaw.ge/en/crimes/private-photos-article-157/ · MMLAW · +995 551 00 43 00 · info@mmlaw.ge