U.S. Judge Blocks Enforcement of Ariz. 'Revenge Porn' Law

PHOENIX — A federal judge on Wednesday blocked from enforcement Arizona's new "revenge porn" law, which threatens criminal prosecution for posting and reposting content online without explicit consent and has been described as "vastly overbroad in its reach" by its opponents.

The order from U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton was part of an agreement between the Arizona attorney general's office and the groups that sued, including the American Civil Liberties Union, several book stores and alternative weeklies. 

Bolton's order blocks enforcement of the law to allow the Legislature time to work on changes to Arizona Revised Statutes Section 13-1425, which was passed into law in April.

The preliminary injunction is in effect until the governor signs a new version of the bill, or until the Legislature adjourns in late spring.

The ACLU sued in September, claiming the law violates the 1st Amendment and is so broadly written it makes anyone distributing or displaying a nude image without explicit permission guilty of a felony.

"It is not limited to disclosures motivated by revenge; in fact, the motive of the person making the disclosure is irrelevant under the law," the ACLU said in is original complaint. "Nor is the law limited to pornography or obscene images.

The ACLU also said that the Arizona law also creates criminal liability for negligent speech.

"A person who displays a restricted image risks criminal prosecution based on an allegation that he or she 'should have known' that there was no consent," the ACLU said. "Thus, a person who finds and reposts a restricted image online could be prosecuted on the grounds that the person 'should have known' that the depicted person did not consent; the 're-poster' would have the same criminal liability as a knowing privacy invader who posted the original image without consent."

Adult entertainment industry attorney Lawrence Walters told XBIZ on Friday that Bolton's order is consistent with what he predicted "when these first knee-jerk laws were first passed."

"Some lawmakers get worked up about a problem that requires surgical constitutional precision to address but end up using a jackhammer, instead, by imposing broad criminal penalties for engaging in expressive activity," Walters said. "Revenge porn is a problem that needs a nuanced legislative approach. Often the posters of these images have no idea that they were first created or published without the consent of the person depicted. Appropriate First Amendment protections need to be built into these statutes, or they will end up in the dust bin, like this Arizona statute.  

"I'm not convinced this activity warrants new criminal prohibitions in the first place. Laws that impose significant civil liability such as statutory damages and attorneys fees may be sufficient to motivate trial lawyers to take on the bulk of the enforcement burden" 

ACLU's

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

Adult Networking Platform SpicyGigs.com Launches

SpicyGigs, a new adult industry networking platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Cream Pie Challenge' Fundraiser

Pineapple Support is hosting its Cream Pie Challenge through August to raise funds for mental health services for industry performers.

Kyrgyzstan President Signs Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday signed into law legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

NC Legislature Overrides Veto of Extreme Anti-Adult Industry Bill

The North Carolina state legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill imposing regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most creators and content.

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

Show More