By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
SACRAMENTO — State lawmakers Tuesday supported sanctions to counter a growing trend they refer to as “revenge porn.”
The Senate Public Safety Committee approved a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to cause a person “substantial emotional distress or humiliation” by distributing pictures of the person that are of a sexual nature without the subject’s consent.
Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) said his legislation is in response to a new phenomenon that happens when some couples end their relationship badly, and one person retaliates by sending nude pictures of the other person out over the Internet.
“People who post or text pictures that are meant to be private as a way to seek revenge are reprehensible,” Cannella said.
He said some websites even specialize in posting the materials and charging large fees to people who want their photos taken down.
“Right now, there is no tool for law enforcement to protect the victims,” Cannella said. “Too many have had their lives upended because of an action of another that they trusted.”
The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the bill with representative Francisco Lobaco telling the committee that posting of lawful, though offensive material, is “constitutonally protected.”
The bill is one of several introduced in the Legislature in recent years that seek to keep up with technological advances and trends not contemplated by current law.
“It is unfortunate that we have to create legislation to protect individuals from the misuse of technology,” said Christine Ward, executive director of Crime Victims Action Alliance.
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/political/la-me-pc-revenge-porn-bill-20130603,0,6305319.story
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