Shasta County at center of Revenge Porn Bill
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) has introduced a bill that strengthens protections for victims of revenge porn and used Shasta County as an example as to why it's needed.
Recently, in Shasta County, a victim of revenge porn was unable to seek justice when her ex-boyfriend pasted enlarged, naked pictures of her on the side of his truck and drove it all around town because it "did not meet the current statutory definition," according to Senator Rubio.
Senate Bill 1081, if passed, would include public displays of images that are posted without consent into the current law.
“Perpetrators are always trying to come up with new ways of harassing victims,” said Senator Rubio. “Unfortunately, victims of revenge porn are constantly humiliated and have to deal with the devastating trauma for years. This is why I passed legislation in 2021 giving victims more time to seek justice and have now introduced SB-1081. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature to pass this critical measure.”
A study by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative found that 93% of victims suffered significant emotional distress as a result of their victimization, 51% had suicidal thoughts, and 49% stated they had been stalked or harassed online by users who saw their material.
California led the nation in 2013 when it created the misdemeanor crime of revenge porn. Since then, 46 states and Washington, DC have joined the movement to criminalize revenge porn and protect victims of this act.
The bill is currently expected to be heard by the California Public Safety Committee.
