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Trending: Katelynn Spencer found out she was a survivor of image-based sexual abuse more than four years ago in May 2020 when she was informed two videos of her were posted on a pornographic website without her consent.She would later learn the videos, one of which she said she did not know was recorded, were uploaded in 2010.Gay porno More than a decade later, they have been “all over many different websites with millions of views,” Spencer said.“Right away, I knew I wanted justice,” Spencer said at the State House. “But then I discovered there was no law in Massachusetts to protect me. Though I did try to charge my exploiter, my case was dismissed.”Her hope for a statute to clearly criminalize the act she was a victim of was likely answered Thursday when Massachusetts became the 49th state to make the circulation of explicit photos or videos of someone without their permission illegal, leaving only South Carolina without a specific law on the matter.Though Gov. Maura Healey and lawmakers this year were able to take credit for moving the proposal across the finish line during a ceremony at the State House, the push to ban so-called “revenge porn” has been in the works on Beacon Hill for years and found major advocates in former Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, both Republicans.A bill during the last legislative session managed to clear both the House and Senate but landed on Baker’s desk too late for him to officially make it law in Massachusetts. Beacon Hill Democrats this session struck a deal on policy just before the end-of-session crunch kicked into gear.Judiciary Committee Co-Chair Rep. Michael Day, one of two men tasked with hashing out a final bill, said with Healey’s signature, Massachusetts state law will specifically clarify that “revenge porn” is criminal harassment subject to “severe” criminal penalties.“That’s going to equip our survivors with more tools to go seek assistance and shelter from the court. It’s going to allow our district attorneys now to move forward on this type of insidious violence as well,” the Stoneham Democrat said.
The non-consensual distribution of explicit images by an adult is now punishable in Massachusetts by up to two and a half years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The fine for criminal harassment also jumped from $1,000 to $5,000.Related Articles
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Lawmakers tasked Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s Office with setting up a diversionary program for teenagers on the consequences of sexting and posting explicit images or videos online in an effort to steer them away from the criminal justice system.State law covering abuse prevention also now includes the definition of “coercive control,” or non-physical forms of abuse by a family or household member. That will allow victims of abuse to qualify for an abuse prevention order.The law, Healey said, “recognizes that harassment and abuse is not just physical.”“This is a space where we have seen some of the ugliest, most dehumanizing, derogatory conduct when it comes to coercive behavior. So we’ve got to do everything we can to eliminate violence, harassment, abusive control, coercement from our communities, and that’s what we have now done,” the first-term Democrat said.Lawmakers also included provisions covering sexually explicit deep fakes, or computer-generated images or videos of people shared without their consent, an issue advocates have warned of with the advancement of artificial intelligence.Shaquera Robinson, who leads the advocacy organization Shaquera’s Story, said the “revenge porn” bill becoming law “is no small feat.”“Together, we rise to make large-scale changes for survivors of domestic abuse by changing laws, by breaking down stigmas, increasing awareness, and building connections. Today, tomorrow, and forever, we rise above coercion and we make room for those coming behind us,” she said. She would later learn the videos, one of which she said she did not know was recorded, were uploaded in 2010. More than a decade later, they have been “all over many different websites with millions of views,” Spencer said. “Right away, I knew I wanted justice,” Spencer said at the State House. “But then I discovered there was no law in Massachusetts to protect me. Though I did try to charge my exploiter, my case was dismissed.” Her hope for a statute to clearly criminalize the act she was a victim of was likely answered Thursday when Massachusetts became the 49th state to make the circulation of explicit photos or videos of someone without their permission illegal, leaving only South Carolina without a specific law on the matter. Though Gov. Maura Healey and lawmakers this year were able to take credit for moving the proposal across the finish line during a ceremony at the State House, the push to ban so-called “revenge porn” has been in the works on Beacon Hill for years and found major advocates in former Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, both Republicans. A bill during the last legislative session managed to clear both the House and Senate but landed on Baker’s desk too late for him to officially make it law in Massachusetts. Beacon Hill Democrats this session struck a deal on policy just before the end-of-session crunch kicked into gear. Judiciary Committee Co-Chair Rep. Michael Day, one of two men tasked with hashing out a final bill, said with Healey’s signature, Massachusetts state law will specifically clarify that “revenge porn” is criminal harassment subject to “severe” criminal penalties. “That’s going to equip our survivors with more tools to go seek assistance and shelter from the court. It’s going to allow our district attorneys now to move forward on this type of insidious violence as well,” the Stoneham Democrat said. The non-consensual distribution of explicit images by an adult is now punishable in Massachusetts by up to two and a half years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The fine for criminal harassment also jumped from $1,000 to $5,000. Lawmakers tasked Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s Office with setting up a diversionary program for teenagers on the consequences of sexting and posting explicit images or videos online in an effort to steer them away from the criminal justice system. State law covering abuse prevention also now includes the definition of “coercive control,” or non-physical forms of abuse by a family or household member. That will allow victims of abuse to qualify for an abuse prevention order. The law, Healey said, “recognizes that harassment and abuse is not just physical.” “This is a space where we have seen some of the ugliest, most dehumanizing, derogatory conduct when it comes to coercive behavior. So we’ve got to do everything we can to eliminate violence, harassment, abusive control, coercement from our communities, and that’s what we have now done,” the first-term Democrat said. Lawmakers also included provisions covering sexually explicit deep fakes, or computer-generated images or videos of people shared without their consent, an issue advocates have warned of with the advancement of artificial intelligence. Shaquera Robinson, who leads the advocacy organization Shaquera’s Story, said the “revenge porn” bill becoming law “is no small feat.” “Together, we rise to make large-scale changes for survivors of domestic abuse by changing laws, by breaking down stigmas, increasing awareness, and building connections. Today, tomorrow, and forever, we rise above coercion and we make room for those coming behind us,” she said. Copyright © 2024 MediaNews Group
