Yesterday, California became the second state to enact a new law making “revenge porn” a criminal offense, just like in New Jersey. There is a penalty of up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine according to the bill. Summed up by The Guardian:
The bill, which takes effect immediately, makes it a misdemeanor to post identifiable nude pictures of someone else online without permission with the intent to cause emotional distress or humiliation.
While you can never really regulate someone into being not a piece of shit asshole post-break up, the laws around criminal “virtual” behavior — along with laws against stalking and criminal harassment — are getting clearer and clearer every day. Good.
Now if we all stopped pretending like the “virtual world” is some other place you visit and not a real part of our daily life…
