# Is Blackmail generally Illegal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 12, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782 "2006-12-12T03:54:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782/21 "2006-12-13T19:16:43Z")

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IANAL, but in this scenario, I’m pretty sure you have a moral obligation to share the photos with the SDMB. 😉

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782/22 "2006-12-13T19:18:53Z")

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[QUOTE=Wee Bairn]  
Got it. But what about this scenario- would it be illegal?

Same photog has same topless photos. Tells Diaz “I can’t publish these because I don’t have your permission. I have no plans on ever letting anyone view them in any form. But I am short on rent money and if you would like to buy them, I am willing to sell them to you. If you chose not to buy them, I will put them in a desk drawer and never pull them out again.”?  
[/QUOTE]

That sounds like a simple offer, not blackmail or extortion.

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782/23 "2006-12-13T20:44:40Z")

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It may be illegal, **Zany** , but I don’t think you’ll post another comment to this thread for reasons us and only us know.

😉

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**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782/24 "2006-12-13T21:05:24Z")

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…and here’s the address to write to:

BLACKMAIL  
BEHIND THE HOT WATER PIPES  
THIRD WASHROOM ALONG  
VICTORIA STATION’

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**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782/25 "2006-12-13T21:12:21Z")

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**ZZZ** : in case you’re asking this because you’re writing a story in which a character tries to commit blackmail, keep in mind that being a blackmailer puts a character at enormous risk of being murdered.

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**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blackmail-generally-illegal/383782/26 "2006-12-14T02:15:01Z")

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[QUOTE=Campion]  
Interestingly, this is an issue that’s come up before. Some people argue that settlement agreements that include a non-disclosure provision are against public policy, at least in areas like product liability or toxic tort.  
[/QUOTE]

Well, if anyone ever asks you to suggest names for a spot as a federal appellate court judge, remember this moment for me.

One doesn’t need a law degree for those, do they?

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