The criminal offense of sextortion is a form of blackmail or extortion and is committed when a person threatens to publish private nude, pornographic, or explicit photos, videos, or images of another person’s body or sexual activity unless the person provides something of value—such as money, sexual activity, more sexual images, or the performance of sexual acts (often online using webcams).

Sextortion laws vary from state to state and are sometimes part of a state’s laws regarding revenge pornography, blackmail, extortion, bribery, or cyberstalking and are prosecuted under those or other criminal offenses rather than as a specific offense called sextortion. These laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code—and are sometimes titled with descriptive names such as The Unlawful Disclosure or Promotion of Intimate Visual Material.

In Oregon, sextortion is not recognized as a distinct criminal offense under a specific statute titled 'sextortion.' However, individuals who engage in sextortion can be prosecuted under various existing laws that criminalize similar conduct. For instance, Oregon's laws against coercion (ORS 163.275), invasion of personal privacy (ORS 163.700), and online sexual corruption of a child (ORS 163.432) may apply to sextortion cases. Additionally, Oregon has a revenge porn law (ORS 163.472) that makes it illegal to unlawfully disclose intimate images without consent. This law could be used to prosecute individuals who threaten to release explicit images unless they receive something of value. The penalties for these offenses can include fines, imprisonment, and being required to register as a sex offender. It is important for individuals facing such allegations to consult with an attorney to understand the specific charges and potential defenses.