Reddit has finally responded to the celebrity nude photo hacking scandal that has swept Hollywood. Gossip Cop reports that the content sharing website banned “The Fappening” page, on which users could find links to most of the leaked images. In its place there is now an image of yellow “Caution” tape, with a caption reading, “this subreddit has been banned.” Included is a statement, explaining that while the site was not obligated to remove the photos, they chose to do so out of ethical consideration. Still, one cannot help but wonder, was their decision informed at least partially by all the talk about possible legal repercussions?

The message attached to the removed page is titled “Every Man Is Responsible for his own soul.” It reads, “While current US law does not prohibit linking to stolen materials, we deplore the theft of these images and we do not condone their widespread distribution.” It goes on, “We understand the harm that misusing out site does to the victims of this theft, and we deeply sympathize.”

 Reddit may be correct that linking to the photos does not technically violate any laws, but the legal situation is a bit more complicated than that. Several of the celebrities whose photos have been leaked have expressed interest in, or have begun, pursuing legal action against those who redistribute them.

A legal representative for McKayla Maroney is said to have contacted at least one porn site that was posting her images, informing them that the Olympic gymnast was under eighteen at the time when some of the pictures were taken, so they were in violation of child pornography laws. Lawyers for Jennifer Lawrence, meanwhile, have reportedly contacted several offending sites, informing them that the actress owns the copyright to the photos  in question. A rep for Kate Upton has warned that the model plans to take similar action, stating, “We intend to pursue anyone disseminating or duplicating these illegally obtained images to the fullest extent possible.”