N.Y. Senators Want To Join the Fight Against 'Revenge Porn'

NEW YORK — A group of New York lawmakers, motivated by the anti-revenge porn laws passed in California and New Jersey, have drafted similar legislation to combat the new form of virtual harassment within state bounds.

If passed, those convicted of distributing explicit photos of a person without their consent will face a misdemeanor charge, punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or one year in jail.  

Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein, a Democrat from Bayside, and Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, an upstate Republican, have issued a press release detailing a framework for the new measure. Their version ups the maximum fine to $30,000.

“Disseminating sexual explicit images that were shared with an expectation of privacy can cause lasting damage to victims and should be a crime,” Braunstein said. “Passage of this legislation would make it clear that New Yorkers will not allow this type of harassment to continue. With the proliferation of cell phones and social networking, this problem will only get worse if we do not take immediate action.”

He notes that, at present, New York residents victimized by revenge porn have few and ineffective options — namely, to sue the person distributing the photos for invasion of privacy.

“Criminalization is preferable to civil suits by victims because civil suits do not deter those who upload or disclose new images after a civil suit has ended. Furthermore, a lengthy trial is emotionally exhausting and prohibitively expensive,” said Mary Anne Franks, an associate professor of law who helped draft the legislation.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 255 into law just Wednesday, making revenge porn a criminal offense in California. The nation has taken note: in addition to the new anti-revenge porn push in New York, a Pennsylvania state senator announced yesterday that she too plans to strengthen online sexual harassment laws by targeting those responsible for revenge porn.

Hunter Moore, infamous operator of revenge porn site IsAnyoneUp, has posted an antagonistic YouTube clip in response to the recent passage of SB 255.

“Basically, this law doesn’t do shit. I don’t know what people are stoked about because it doesn’t do anything,” he says in the clip. He argues that the Communications Decency Act eliminates site owners’ liability for the content on their site, making it a moot law.    

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Federal Appeals Court Vacates FTC 'Click to Cancel' Rule Pending Review

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on Tuesday vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel online subscriptions, pending further review.

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

Only Tax Deductions Joins Pineapple Support as Sponsor

Adult industry accounting firm Only Tax Deductions has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Adult Empire Launches 'Conversations' Podcast Series

Adult Empire has launched a new official podcast series hosted by Nicole Chappelle and Charlie.

Sex Work CEO Launches 'Teams Plan' for AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Teams Plan for its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Show More