A bill that would make it a crime to post sexually explicit images of someone online without that person’s consent is on its way to the governor to be signed into law after passing the House Thursday on a 90-2 vote.
House Bill 71 aims to crack down on so-called “revenge porn” — sexually explicit photos or videos often used to humiliate the person photographed or turn a profit for the person posting the photos online.
Penalties for posting such an image would range from a misdemeanor for a first offense or a Class D felony for a subsequent offense to a Class D felony for a first offense and a more serious Class C felony for subsequent offenses if the image was posted for profit.
The poster of the images could also be liable in civil court, where $1,000 in damages could be assessed under the bill for each image each day it remains online after a request has been made to remove it. Language in the bill would also prohibit an online entity from demanding payment to remove the image or images.
HB 71 passed the Senate on a 37-0 vote Wednesday before final passage in the House Thursday.
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