It’s called “revenge porn.” One party in an intimate relationship gets angry with the other and publishes online embarrassing, if not x-rated videos. Baltimore County Del. Jon Cardin wants to make it a felony.
Cardin outlined his proposal Wednesday in a news conference at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.
The bill, which he plans to introduce at the next General Assembly session, would make posting sexually explicit material online of someone without their permission a felony punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $25,000. Cardin, who is running for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, said he laid the groundwork for the law while he was researching cybercrimes while shepherding Grace’s Law, which targets cyber bullying, through the General Assembly this year.
“This is an area that has obviously gotten a tremendous amount of press and attention whether it be in California or on the east coast, and now Maryland,” he said. “We are looking forward to try and protect the most vulnerable among us.”
Annmarie Chiarini, a victim of revenge porn in 2010 and 2011, said she became an advocate for the law because she was “frustrated and so fed up” after dealing with police.
“I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that this wasn’t considered criminal behavior.” Chiarini is a victim advocate for the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative.
Cardin said the law would also cover images posted from a phone or tablet that was stolen.