The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday to increase the punishment for “revenge porn” where people post sexually explicit images of former partners on social media websites.
The bill, SB 532, would make it a second degree misdemeanor to attempt to harass former partners on social media by posting sexually explicit images of them without their consent. If the revenge-seeker is over 18 years old and the victim is 16 years or younger, it would be a first degree misdemeanor.
Sean Shahid, 20, was arrested on Jan. 29 on charges of stalking and tampering with a witness after posting sexually explicit images of his ex-girlfriend, a student at the University of Central Florida. Shahid posted the images after his ex-girlfriend told UCF Police about an alleged burglary Shahid was involved in. At the time, authorities told WFTV that posting the images isn’t a crime in Florida. Shahid was not charged related to posting the images.
“It’s a crime that is directed largely toward women, and it’s bringing the law up to date with technology,” said Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs told the Orlando Sentinel.
Lawmakers in the House now have until May 2 to act on the bill.
