OLYMPIA—A couple of bills introduced in the Washington State House and Senate could give victims of revenge porn some restitution by making a person civilly liable for distributing intimate images of another intentionally and without consent.
Revenge porn is the online posting of explicit images of people without their permission.
The identical measures were introduced simultaneously [Thursday] by Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, in the House, and by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, in the Senate.
“Back in the day when intimate images were leaked, they’d appear in a magazine and the attention and audience was limited. That was damaging to the victims, but not nearly as devastating as what they go through now with the internet making images easily published, easily viewed, and permanent in nature,” said Orwall. “We must pass laws that protect the integrity, dignity and privacy of individuals whose personal and professional reputations are impacted, and who are harassed, threatened and bullied because an intimate photo of them was shared without their consent and through no fault of their own.”
