Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 19, 2015 12:55 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Judith L. Schwank and Sen. Vincent J. Hughes |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Stolen private images |
| We will shortly introduce legislation to expand the legal barriers to disseminating private sexual and naked images without the subject’s consent. Pennsylvania responded last session to the emergence of situations where harm is attempted against present or former sexual or intimate partners by the distribution of their sexual images without consent, so-called “revenge porn, ” with the Unlawful Dissemination of Intimate Images law (18 PaCS section 3131). A related form of sexual assault though photographic images remains unaddressed by our law, however. Though less common, it is no less serious and in some ways is even more invasive because of the lack of any existing or previous relationship between the victim and perpetrator. An example is the nationally prominent hacking last Fall of a number of celebrities’ digital images of them naked or in sexual activities and the online sharing of them. The recent incidents involving a fraternity at Penn State might also fall in this category. Such acts might have no specific animus toward the victim and be intended only for the perpetrators’ or other person’s financial gain or some other personal motivation. Our legislation will make these acts a crime treated under our Invasion of Privacy law, 18 PaCS section 7507.1, the same as acts that constitute unlawful dissemination of intimate images, with the same criminal grading and civil liability. Please join with us in helping to put a stop to such activities. |
Introduced as SB1310