House Approves Bill That Outlaws Forwarding Nude Photos

By Dennis Lambert
Published: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 10:29am
Updated: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 2:57pm
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The Arizona House has unanimously passed legislation to make it illegal to post someone else’s naked photo online.

It’s designed to address ‘revenge porn,’ where a compromising photo of a partner, taken during a relationship, is put on the Internet even though it was not meant to be shared with others.

Sate Rep. JD Mesnard says problems can arise when the relationship ends, especially if it ends badly.

“As technology changes, people invent new ways of hurting folks, and if at the end of the day, we sent a picture to somebody in the context of a trusting relationship, we should not have to wonder what that person is going to do,” Mesnard said.

The legislation covers not just images of nudity, but anyone engaged in any sex act. The measure, which makes it a felony to post such photos online without the person’s written consent, now goes to the state Senate.