In today’s modern era, it has become simpler to send messages, exchange moments, and even exchange intimate moments using digital technology. Nonetheless, it has also made technological abuse simpler for others, such as exchanging intimate videos or photographs without the victim’s consent, also known as revenge porn. This abuse, which is labeled as the sending of intimate materials without regard to its sharing and for the act of humiliating and injuring another person, has ruins its impact to victims. Massachusetts has moved into the direction to counteract such crime with a bit of laws that are target-oriented to take care of the victim and abusers. In this blog we are going to discuss about Revenge Porn Laws Massachusetts , its Legal Protections and Also Resources for Victims. Lets get started !
What Is Revenge Porn?
Revenge porn is illicit sharing of private or nude pictures or videos, by the former boyfriend or sex partner. The reason for doing this is primarily to hurt the other person emotionally or vengefully after a dispute or break-up. Revenge porn is shared widely on social networking sites, blogs, or messaging platforms, and when it goes viral, then even for the victim it becomes very hard to recover her/his own pictures.
The impact of revenge porn is not only the immediate invasion of privacy. The victims do indeed experience emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and severe loss of reputation. It can, in the extreme case, even result in physical intimidation and harassment. With knowledge of the adverse impact of the same, Massachusetts enacted with an intent to provide protection and assistance to the victims of revenge porn in the form of legislation.
Revenge Porn Laws Massachusetts : Overview
Massachusetts enacted Chapter 272, Section 105 as law in 2016, i.e., a revenge porn law on the dissemination of intimate videos or images without permission. It criminalizes the dissemination of personal material without the involved party’s permission with the intention to cause harm, distress, or intimidation.
Below are some of the things regarding the Revenge Porn Laws Massachusetts :
- Non-Consensual Distribution: According to this act, it is illegal for a person to knowingly distribute an intimate video or photo of another individual without his or her consent. This distribution can be on various platforms such as social networking websites, websites, or peer-to-peer networks.
- Penalties against Offenders: Offenders, upon conviction, are liable to harsh punishment. Punishment under law is up to 2.5 years imprisonment with a fine in terms of monetary value. Punishment for repeat offenders can be harsher. In certain cases, persons in possession of explicit material for distribution may also be tried.
- Protection to the Victim: The victim is protected by law in criminal as well as civil action. Apart from criminal prosecution, the victim may also file a civil suit against the offender. The civil suit can recover damages for emotional distress, damage to reputation, and any other harm caused as a result of the non-consensual publication of the images or videos.
- Protection in the Future from Harm: Prohibition of circulation of explicit materials is one of the most notable objectives of this law. The victims can take legal action in order to take their photographs or movies off the internet or on any website that they have put them on.
- Cybercrime Protection: The law also aims to cater for the increasing cases of cybercrimes. It realizes that with the technology age, the exploitation can go viral and affect the victim’s life for a long time.
How to Protect Yourself from the Revenge Porn Laws Massachusetts
Even though the law gives a very good protection to the victims, prevention is always preferable. Some of the most crucial steps that can be adopted in an endeavor to not be a revenge porn victim are discussed below:
- Be Careful What You Post: Remember that once you post private content on the web or through electronic media, it is hard, if not impossible, to delete. If you do post obscene material, make sure you are posting it to someone you fully trust, and understand that they might not always have your privacy in perspective.
- Know Your Rights: You have the right to choose who can see your private photos. If someone else posts your private photos or videos without your permission, the law protects you. Understanding these rights allows you to act, if need be.
- Act Immediately: If you realize that explicit material has been published without your consent, you have to act immediately. Report the material to the website where it has been published and request them to delete it. The majority of these websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have reporting tools for this reason.
- Save Evidence: If you’ve received someone’s personal content without your permission, save it. Save a screenshot, message, or email as evidence. Just in case you find yourself having to sue or going to court.
- Consult the Law: Unless you are certain what legal course of action to pursue, you might want to seek out the advice of a privacy attorney or a sexual harassment lawyer. They would be able to tell you what to do next and inform you about what your rights are according to the law.
Legal Action: What Victims Can Do
For revenge porn victims, Massachusetts has some legal recourse options. Let us see what they are:
Criminal Conduct: As stated, Massachusetts criminalizes the dissemination of explicit content without permission. If you are a victim of revenge porn, you can report the incident to the police or Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Police authorities can charge the offender as a crime and investigate the crime.
Civil Lawsuit: Along with criminal prosecution, you can also sue in a civil lawsuit. Under this, you can recover economic damages for the harm caused by publication of your photographs. A civil suit can recover damages for emotional distress, loss of wages (if any), and reputational damage.
Restraining Orders: Apart from that, if you are being threatened with your safety, you can also request a restraining order or protection order against the individual who is posting your explicit materials. A restraining order is a judge’s court order that can restrict the person from contact or posting material with you in the future.
Deletion of Content: There are also legal means through which the victims can request deletion of content from the web. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) tools and powers can assist the victim in reaching the websites and websites where they have uploaded the content. They can assist in deletion but it is not always possible to delete content once a large number of people have viewed it on the web.
Massachusetts Victim Resources
You don’t need to be alone if you’re a Massachusetts victim of revenge porn. There are various organizations to help you with support, resources, and legal advice:
Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office: The office of the Attorney General provides victims of harassment online, including revenge porn, with resources. They can assist you in reporting and inform you of your rights.
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI): It is an NGO that works to support the victims of revenge porn. They offer support in having content taken off the internet and legal and emotional support to victims.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24/7 confidential support to the victimized, including online victimization. They can help get you in contact with people in your area and get you informed about what to do next.
Women’s Law: Women’s Law is another excellent resource for victims of cyber abuse. They have state-by-state guidance on what to do about non-consensual pornography and how to guard your information online.
Moving Forward: How We Can All Help
Although Massachusetts has progressed far in eradicating revenge porn, more can still be done. Education to the public about the legal and psychological harm that revenge porn creates is the solution. The more informed the public is about the potential for harm that this activity entails, the more successful a society can be at preventing this activity.
There must also be teaching on the value of privacy and consent online. Children born today in a world of technology, to be specific, must know the risks of sending naked photos and how that will harm them. We need to cultivate a culture of respect, with which everyone’s privacy and consent are respected.
Conclusion
Revenge porn is a manipulative, abusive form of abuse that has long-term effects on its victims. Fortunately, Massachusetts has enacted strong laws to help victims and bring criminals to justice. If you are a revenge porn victim, you should know that there are options open to you. There are legal options open to you, and there are organizations to guide you through the process.
By educating ourselves further about the problem, supporting the victims, and lobbying for more protection, we can help make the cyber world a better, more honorable place for all of us. If you’re a victim of revenge porn, don’t wait — help and justice are at hand.
