October 3, 2013 | The Biz

California bans revenge porn

Revenge porn - where images of naked individuals are published online without consent by disgruntled or mean-spirited exes - has been banned in California.

Yesterday, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill outlawing the practice. The new law makes it a misdemeanour to post identifiable nude pictures of someone else online without permission with the intent to cause emotional distress or humiliation.

If convicted, individuals face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

"Until now, there was no tool for law enforcement to protect victims," said Senator Anthony Cannella, the man who initiated the bill. "Too many have had their lives upended because of an action of another that they trusted."

Before the law, victims could sue the perpetrator; however, for many this was considered too costly and time consuming.

It's important to note that self-pics are not covered by the law. This means your ex can post the naked images you sent for his eyes only without breaking the law.

The ACLU opposed the bill, claiming it could curtail free speech rights. Florida politicians cited a similar concern when they refused to pass their own revenge porn law.

'Revenge porn' law passes, but doesn't cover photos shared by victims [NBC News]

Calif. Bans Jilted Lovers From Posting 'Revenge Porn' Online [NPR]