New York needs stricter laws against revenge porn

As April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is important for people to understand that it is estimated that1 out of 5 women will be a sexual assault victim in her lifetime. New York needs to do more to protect victims of all forms of sexual assault, from rape to the less well-known, but increasingly common, revenge porn.

Revenge porn, or non-consensual pornography, occurs when an ex-partner posts intimate photos or videos online, usually after a breakup. It is a form of sexual abuse that is often overlooked. Sometimes the photos have been taken consensually, but the use of them is not consensual. Eighty percent of victims of non-consensual pornography are women.

The distribution of these images goes far beyond the immediate reach of individual social networks sites as well. Frequently, the images or videos are sent directly to people at the victim’s place of employment. Even more disturbing, there are a variety of revenge porn websites, where perpetrators post images, frequently including detailed information about the person, such as her name, phone number, home address or work information. Not only are victims violated through the use of their image, but the disclosure of identifying information makes it even harder for a victim to recover, as she is made even more vulnerable.

Another component of this assault extends beyond the initial victim and perpetrator. Once these photos are posted, they are widely available, and other disturbed people use revenge porn sites to “shop” for victims. Since personal information is also often available with the photos, new perpetrators use it to track down and pursue women who are already victims. Forty-nine percent of women who have been victims of revenge porn indicate that they were stalked or harassed by strangers as a result.

There is an even more horrifying element – if that is possible – and that is that not all photos are of consensual acts. At times, images or videos of physical sexual assaults are posted. While portions of this behavior are prosecutable, such as non-consensual sexual acts or distributing nude photos of minors, in too many states – including New York – the posting of these photos is not subject to criminal penalties. This needs to change.

It is difficult to imagine how devastating it is to be publicly exposed in this fashion and the detrimental ramifications it would have on an individual. People have lost their jobs.Victims have been expelled from school. In some instances, people feel they have no choice but to move away from what was previously their home. Too often, the victim continues to be victimized while the perpetrator remains unpunished.

There is currently a bill in the New York state Assembly, A571, which addresses some of these issues, but it is not as aggressive as the growing problem requires. At the very least, the bill needs stricter punishment for perpetrators and should make it an elevated crime to include personal information in postings. But we also need to have a full understanding of the scope of this problem.

If you have been a victim of revenge porn, you should not suffer in silence.The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative helps victims across the country. With a 24-hour hotline, you are never alone. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative not only helps individuals recover, it empowers victims to speak out about their aggressors and become advocates not just for themselves, but for other victims. These efforts have been fundamental to creating criminal penalties around the country, and New York should join the growing number of states which address this pernicious violation.  

Every day, sexual cybercrimes find new ways to violate victims. It is time for society, and New York state, to recognize the seriousness of these crimes and establish appropriate punishment.

Deborah Glick is a New York state Assembly member. Her district includes the East Village, Tribeca, Greenwich Village and SoHo. She is also chairwoman of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education.