Minnesota Revenge Porn Law Upheld
From today’s Minnesota Supreme Court decision in State v. Casillas:
While “[o]ne’s naked body is a very private part of one’s person and generally known to others only by choice,” the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images removes this choice from a victim and exposes the victim’s most intimate moments to others against the victim’s will.
Those who are unwillingly exposed to their friends, family, bosses, co-workers, teachers, fellow students, or random strangers on the internet are often deeply and permanently scarred by the experience. Victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, despair, loneliness, alcoholism, drug abuse, and significant losses in self-esteem, confidence, and trust. Survivors often require therapy and medical intervention. The effects of revenge porn are so profound that victims have psychological profiles that match sexual assault survivors. Tragically, not every victim survives this experience and some commit suicide as a result of their exposure online.
Those who survive this harrowing experience without significant health consequences still may have their reputations permanently tarnished. Many victims have a scarlet letter affixed to their resumes when applying for jobs or additional educational opportunities. When a simple internet search for a victim’s name displays multiple nude images, employers frequently put the victim’s application aside. Employers have fired employees who have been victimized by their former partners. Losing employment is a difficult issue for any person, but is especially problematic when victims need employment-sponsored health benefits to deal with the trauma of being exposed online.
“[I]t is difficult to imagine something more private than images depicting an individual engaging in sexual conduct, or of a person’s genitals, anus, or pubic area.” Even if a victim is fortunate enough to avoid the serious mental, emotiona
Article from Latest – Reason.com
