• Colorado is the latest state to propose a ‘revenge porn’ bill covering minors.
• Some state legislators think the ‘revenge porn’ law is unnecessary.
• Mugshot websites are also in politicians’ sights.

With social media on the rise, Colorado lawmakers are considering formalizing a new law they hope will curtail online bullying, cyber harassment, and revenge porn.

Colorado’s Proposed Anti-Cyberbullying Bill

The first bill proposal makes bullying a minor, through social media, a misdemeanor. In the past, cyberbullying has been blamed for the suicides of teens around the country. By passing this bill into law, those who inflict “serious emotional distress on a minor” using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social networks could face criminal charges. In other states, such crimes can fall under existing laws. For example, in Florida, police charged two teen tormentors with felony aggravated stalking after the girl they had targeted online tragically committed suicide.

Colorado’s Proposed Revenge Porn Bill

The second proposal deals with so-called ‘revenge porn,’ wherein jilted lovers seek revenge by posting intimate photos of their ex-paramours online. The bill in Colorado deals exclusively with minors, who are often humiliated by the distribution of the photos.

There is also concern that minors targeted by such revenge may also have their images used as child pornography. So far, California and New Jersey are the only states that have laws protecting children exploited in such a way. Colorado hopes to become the third. While the point of the bill is looked upon favorably, opponents argue that laws already exist to protect minors from child pornography and that another is unneeded.

Colorado Wants To Curtail Mugshot Website Extortion

Lawmakers want Colorado citizens to have the right to remove their mugshots from the web. Utah and Georgia have taken similar steps and outlawed the practice of posting mugshots online. Some websites charge hundreds of dollars to remove the photographs. To curtail this punishment of the innocent and prevent financial shake-downs, the bill would make it possible to get pictures removed for free upon request.

Revenge Porn and Cyber Harassment Lawyer

Do you need a lawyer to handle an online harassment situation? Contact Kelly Warner Law. We have considerable experience with revenge porn and Internet harassment cases. The longer you wait, the more damage can be done.