Sending unsolicited nudes will be $500 fine in Virginia

On Tuesday, Virginia lawmakers passed a bill officially making it illegal to send unsolicited nude images. The law will go into effect this summer. Backing the bill was the popular dating app Bumble.

“Their efforts were inspired by a survey done by the company, in which nearly one out of every two women said they’ve received an unsolicited nude in their lifetime. Of those who had received a lewd image, nearly one out of three said it had been as recent as within the past month.” – Brielle Ashford (WUSA9)

A similar bill has already been passed in Texas, and comparable legislation is being discussed in California, Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania.

Those who perpetrate these actions in the commonwealth could face a minimum $500 fine, or more. Read the official summary of the bill below:

Civil action for the dissemination of sexually explicit visual material to another.

Provides that any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly transmits an intimate image, as defined in the bill, by computer or other electronic means to the computer or electronic communication device of another person 18 years of age or older when such other person has not consented to the use of his computer or electronic communication device for the receipt of such material or has expressly forbidden the receipt of such material shall be considered a trespass and shall be liable to the recipient of the intimate image for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, in addition to reasonable attorney fees and costs.

The phrase “…considered a trespass and shall be liable to the recipient of the intimate image…” may be interpreted differently by different judges. However, this language sets an important legal precedent. In contrast, the full bill reads that the internet, or cellular, service provider would not be held liable.