The former operator of a revenge porn website banned by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has invoked copyright law in an attempt to remove "unauthorized photos" of himself from the internet. Craig Brittain, who previously ran the site IsAnybodyDown.com, has filed multiple takedown notices to Google under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Brittain is asking that the internet giant remove search results pointing to 23 sites that wrote about the FTC's decision against him (including The Verge), arguing that they include "unauthorized information" about him as well as "photos which are not 'fair use.'" 
 
 Brittain allegedly charged people to have their pictures taken off his site 
 
 The staggering irony of the situation is hard to ignore. The FTC originally stopped Brittain's revenge porn business in January this year, banning him from "publicly sharing any more nude videos or photographs of people without their affirmative express consent." The agency's complaint alleged that he not only "used deception to acquire and post intimate images of women," but also operated a fake "takedown" service, charging individuals between $200 to $500 to have their pictures removed from his site. "Despite presenting these as third-party services, the complaint alleges that the sites for these services were owned and operated by Brittain," said the FTC. The director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection added that Brittain's behavior was "not only illegal but reprehensible." 
 
 In turn, Brittain has protested that the coverage of his case by the mainstream media has been unfair. In a statement on the reclaimed IsAnyoneDown.com (the domain was not banned, merely the posting of revenge porn) he claims that he had "nothing to do with any 'takedown' services, with the exception of negotiated settlements through dmca.com." He also defends other aspects of the site such as its "bounty system" — a service that let users post rewards of at least $100 for submitting information and photos of specific individuals. Brittain says this was "not an attempt to buy revenge porn" but merely an attempt to "formally transition into regular amateur adult content." 
 
 "No less than 200 of the women pictured were offered modeling contracts." 
 
 Brittain says that only 50 images posting on the site were actual revenge porn (i.e. pictures submitted out of spite by ex-partners), while the "majority" were simply "self-posted, self-taken pictures which were already publicly posted to other websites." He claims that "no less than 200 of the women pictured ... were offered modeling contracts valued as high as $100,000 per year as a result of exposure generated by publicity from IAD," adding that the website as a whole "promoted positive body image" by posting pictures of individuals "from every gender, race, origin, country, etc." 
 
 Despite his discomfort at the coverage of his past deeds, it's not likely that Brittain's DMCA requests he has filed will be heeded. The law requires companies like Google to remove links to sites posting copyrighted material, but coverage of Brittain's story falls clearly under fair use. As Ars Technica notes, it's also unlikely that Brittain would even be able to have his information removed under the EU's "right to be forgotten" ruling, as this only covers information that is "inadequate, irrelevant, or no longer relevant." 

 What do you do if you're a revenge porn site operator and the Federal Trade Commission has barred you from publishing nude images of people without their consent? 
 
 You demand that Google remove from its search engine links to news accounts about the FTC's action and other related stories, citing "unauthorized use of photos of me and other related information." 
 
 Craig Brittain—the former operator of revenge porn site IsAnybodyDown.com—is invoking the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in a bid to remove 23 links in all—an irony-filled DMCA takedown request that Google is ignoring. One of the links renders the FTC's press release in January about its enforcement against Brittain. Another is a link to Ars' story about the FTC's move: "Sleazy 'revenge porn' site is banished to settle federal charges." 
 
 In addition to claims that the links contain "unauthorized" information about him, Brittain asserts "unauthorized use of statements and identity related information. Unauthorized copying of excerpts from isanybodydown.com. Using photos which are not 'fair use.'" 
 
 Further Reading “Involuntary porn” site tests the boundaries of legal extortion 
 
 The DMCA requires Internet companies like Google to remove links to infringing content at a rights holder's request or face legal liability. In this instance, fair use and general First Amendment principles are on Google's and the media's side. 
 
 Brittain's takedown requests likely wouldn't even qualify for removal in Europe under the "right to be forgotten" ruling from the European High court in May. The decision requires search engines to take down "inadequate, irrelevant, or no longer relevant” materials from search results upon request by EU citizens. 
 
 The FTC complaint against Brittain alleged that "he used deception to acquire and post intimate images of women, then referred them to another website he controlled, where they were told they could have the pictures removed if they paid hundreds of dollars." 
 
 Brittain did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

 The operator of an alleged “revenge porn” website is banned from publicly sharing any more nude videos or photographs of people without their affirmative express consent, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. In addition, he will have to destroy the intimate images and personal contact information he collected while operating the site. 
 
 The FTC’s complaint against Craig Brittain alleges that he used deception to acquire and post intimate images of women, then referred them to another website he controlled, where they were told they could have the pictures removed if they paid hundreds of dollars. 
 
 “This behavior is not only illegal but reprehensible,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “I am pleased that as a result of this settlement, the illegally collected images and information will be deleted, and this individual can never return to the so-called ‘revenge porn’ business.” 
 
 According to the FTC’s complaint, Brittain acquired the images in a number of ways, such as by posing as a woman on the advertising site Craigslist, and offering nude photos purportedly of himself in exchange for photos provided by women. When women provided him with the photos, Brittain posted them on his site without their knowledge or permission. 
 
 In addition to collecting and posting the images himself, Brittain solicited viewers of his site to anonymously submit nude photos of people to his site, according to the complaint. He required submissions to include sensitive personal information about the people in the photos, including their full name, town and state, phone number and Facebook profile. 
 
 The complaint also alleged that Brittain offered a “bounty system” on his site, wherein users could offer a reward of at least $100 in exchange for other users finding pictures and information about a specific person. Overall, Brittain’s site included photos of more than 1,000 individuals, according to the complaint. 
 
 Women whose photographs and information were posted on the site contacted Brittain to have the information removed, citing the potential harms to their careers and reputations. In addition, women cited unwelcome contact from strangers who had discovered their information on Brittain’s site. The complaint notes that in many cases Brittain did not respond to the women’s requests to remove the information. 
 
 In fact, the complaint alleges that Brittain’s site advertised content removal services under the name “Takedown Hammer” and “Takedown Lawyer” that could delete consumers’ images and content from the site in exchange for a payment of $200 to $500. Despite presenting these as third-party services, the complaint alleges that the sites for these services were owned and operated by Brittain. 
 
 Under the terms of the settlement, Brittain is required to permanently delete all of the images and other personal information he received during the time he operated the site. He will also be prohibited from publicly sharing intimate videos or photographs of people without their affirmative express consent, as well as being prohibited from misrepresenting how he will use any personal information he collects online. 
 
 The Commission vote to accept the the proposed consent order for public comment was 5-0. The FTC will publish a description of the consent agreement package in the Federal Register shortly. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through March 2, 2015, after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final. Interested parties can submit comments electronically by following the instructions in the “Invitation To Comment” part of the “Supplementary Information” section. 
 
 NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to $16,000. 
 
 The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.
– Irony alert: A guy who ran a website that trafficked in revenge porn and encouraged men to post unauthorized photos of exes is now asking Google to protect his privacy. Craig Brittain, who ran the website IsAnybodyDown.com before the FTC booted him from the business last month, wants Google to remove search results that point to photos of him and links to websites that carried stories about his legal troubles, reports the Verge. Brittain is invoking a copyright law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, but observers suggest he'd better not hold his breath. "In this instance, fair use and general First Amendment principles are on Google's and the media's side," writes David Kravets at ArsTechnica. The FTC accused Brittain of running a "takedown" service—charging people hundreds of dollars to have their images removed from the website—and that gives Consumerist an idea: "Perhaps each of the sites on Brittain’s DMCA list should take a lesson from him and offer to remove his images—for an extortionate fee." (Brittain is not the same "revenge porn pioneer" recently sentenced to prison.)