Fall River Lawmaker Files “Revenge Porn” Bill

"Revenge porn" is what one local lawmaker calls the act of posting a nude photo of another person to the internet without permission. State Representative Alan Silvia of Fall River says the act should have severe consequences, and has filed a bill that would criminalize revenge porn.

Silvia tells WBSM News the act of posting a sexually explicit picture can be very harmful to the intended target. "Students who don't want to go to school because someone had their photo or partially nude photo and it was sent out online to someone or to others, it's very damaging. This would, for the first time, address the issue of electronic transfer of nudity (in Massachusetts)," said Silvia.

Silvia says in many cases, young people across the Commonwealth have committed suicide, including two high school students in Fall River and Taunton after they became victims of 'revenge porn'.

The bill calls for a penalty of a $1,000 fine, a year in prison, or both.