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 Pennsylvania, 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 related conduct. For instance, Pennsylvania law includes statutes against invasion of privacy, which could apply to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, as well as laws against extortion and threats, which could cover the coercive aspect of sextortion. Additionally, the state has laws against cyber harassment and stalking, which may also be relevant in cases where sextortion involves persistent online threats. The specific charges and penalties would depend on the details of the case, including the nature of the threats, the harm caused, and the defendant's criminal history. It is important for individuals facing such situations to consult with an attorney to understand the applicable laws and potential legal consequences.