Delegate Cracks Down on 'Revenge Porn' Online

By D. Frank Smith 

Maryland Del. Jon Cardin wants stiff punishments for online perpetrators of so-called "revenge porn," sexually explicit images posted online to hurt an ex-significant other.

Cardin (D-Baltimore County) previously championed an anti-cyberbullying bill referred to as Grace's Law, which went into effect in October. His next goal is to criminalize what he termed cybersexual harassment.

While speaking with Annapolis radio station WNAV, Cardin said there are websites designed to humiliate people, allowing its users to post sexually explicit images as a form of revenge against a former significant other.

"I believe that cybersexual harassment, pornography that's unconsented, should not be able to be put up on the Internet in a  way that destroys people's lives," Cardin said.

Cardin's bill includes penalties of up to $25,000, stricter than other states approaching the issue such as California, where legislators recently approved a law carrying a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine for similar crimes.

Cardin also commented on the recent punishment of 11 Annapolis High School students, who were penalized by school officials for participating in what they called cyberbullying. The offense could be among the first cases for Grace's Law to take effect, however there are no state charges pending in the incident.

"I think this is a new law and its going to have to be worked out and how to best use it to try and change people's behavior, to make them realized that words really do matter," Cardin said.