The New South Wales Government will move to criminalise "revenge porn", making it an offence to create and distribute sexually explicit images without consent, the state Attorney-General says.

The issue is a particular problem among teenagers, because "sexting" can lead to Commonwealth charges of child pornography.

Victoria and South Australia are the only states to have their own laws banning people from sharing intimate images without consent.

Last year, a parliamentary inquiry looked at several aspects of privacy laws, including whether legislation should be updated to reflect the digital age.

The Upper House committee's report, released in March, recommended NSW create laws enabling people to sue if their privacy is intentionally or recklessly invaded.

Have you been affected by 'revenge porn'? Email nsw.news@abc.net.au.

NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton has already indicated criminalising "revenge porn" will be part of that response.

"Distributing intimate images without consent often involves ex-partners seeking revenge," Ms Upton said.

"It's particularly troubling in domestic violence situations where a victim may be forced to participate in the production of explicit images."

However, Labor MP Lynda Voltz said giving the Privacy Commissioner the power to take down offensive images would be more effective than the proposed legislation.

"It's very important that we don't traumatise the victims and make them go through the criminal system," Ms Voltz said.

"It's important that there is someone there who can say, 'here is the takedown notice, take the image off the internet and issue an apology'."

Ms Voltz said if victims were faced with the prospect of a criminal trial, they might be less inclined to come forward to authorities with their complaint.

"We know that women will not go through the court system in sexual assault cases because they're traumatised and they don't want to relive it and that's going to be the same in this situation," she said.

How 'revenge porn' offence could apply to youth

Ms Upton said the Government would begin the consultation process soon, asking stakeholders and legal experts for advice on the definition of "intimate" images, how they are shared or distributed, and what penalties should apply.

The Attorney-General said consultation would also look at how the offence should apply to children and young people.

Youth Action CEO Katie Acheson said that aspect of the legislation was crucial, because the current situation — where teenagers in NSW can be charged with child pornography — is inappropriate.

"Young people are being charged under the legislation that was designed to protect them," she said.

"We don't want young people to be on the sex offenders list for sending a consensual picture to their partner.

"Victoria has done a much better job of looking at the laws and saying 'how does this apply to a young person?'"

Ms Acheson said "revenge porn" did not need to be perceived as an impossible area to legislate.

"It's a clear conversation about consent, so when an image is being taken a conversation needs to happen about 'what are the boundaries of this image that's been taken?'" she said.

"If somebody's going to share an image that's non-consensual, then that is revenge form and that should be a crime.

"When somebody is sharing an image that was consensual and it wasn't shared with malicious intention, it's a very different thing, so I think the law needs to reflect the nuances within that action."