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 Mississippi, sextortion is not recognized as a distinct criminal offense under a specific statute titled 'sextortion.' However, individuals who engage in such conduct can be prosecuted under various existing laws that criminalize similar behavior. Mississippi law addresses related offenses such as cyberstalking, extortion, and the non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images, which is often referred to as 'revenge pornography.' Under Mississippi Code Section 97-29-45, it is unlawful to intentionally and without consent disseminate photographs, films, or digital images of another person's intimate areas or engaged in sexual conduct. Violation of this law is a felony and can result in fines and imprisonment. Additionally, extortion, which involves obtaining something of value through threats, is criminalized under Mississippi Code Section 97-3-82. Those found guilty of extortion can face severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment. Therefore, while there is no specific 'sextortion' statute, the acts typically involved in sextortion cases can be prosecuted under these and other related criminal statutes in Mississippi.