New York lawmakers move to strengthen anti-'revenge porn' law

“This bill is about justice for crime victims and protecting their rights and dignity in the digital age," said state Sen. Monica Martinez, the Democratic sponsor of the measure in the state Senate. "As the sponsor of the landmark legislation on revenge porn, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of image exploitation on individuals and families."

Many of the changes are considered technical in nature, but lawmakers hope will provide more protection for victims, Martinez said. 

The bill, given approval this week in the state Senate after passing in the Assembly, clarifies the law applies to images posted to social media and also clarifies it does not apply when something is shared in the public interest, or is of newsworthy or artistic value while also seeking to hold perpetrators responsible. “By building on the success of Bianca and Caroline's Law and making necessary technical changes, this bill takes a crucial step forward in the fight against technology abuse and misuse," Martinez said. "Together, we stand firm in our commitment to preserving the rights of all crime victims and ensuring they are not further victimized by the unjust dissemination of their images on the internet."