Rest assured Massachusetts ladies, the governor passed a bill today that makes upskirt photos illegal and punishable with prison time.
“The law will make the secret photographing, videotaping, or electronically surveilling of another person’s sexual or other intimate parts, whether under or around a person’s clothing or when a reasonable person would believe that the person’s intimate parts would not be visible to the public, a crime,” says a statement from Gov. Deval Patrick’s office.
The crime will be punishable by up to two and a half years in jail or a fine of up to $5,000. Sharing the photos and/or videos could lead to felony charges and a prison sentence.
Lawmakers say the previous law, which was written before the invention of cell phones, did not foresee emerging technology. The new law passed takes into account technology like smart phones and digital cameras.
The bill was swiftly passed through Massachusetts legislature in response to a public outcry, after the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that taking “upskirt” photos was legal. In that case, Michael Robertson, 32, was accused of taking photos and video up women’s skirts on the public transit system on two occasions in 2010. Robertson was acquitted of charges as the court cited that the two women were in a public place and did not “have an expectation of privacy.”
The law aims to change the public perception that people are unsafe from peeping toms that can take photos and videos of their private parts and circulate the images online.
“We can send a message out there, to the women especially, that this type of action will not be tolerated — now will be illegal under Massachusetts law,” said Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.
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