TRENTON, N.J. — A significant legislative step was taken in New Jersey on Monday to combat digital sexual harassment. Assemblywoman Aura Dunn has spearheaded a bill, passed by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, aimed at making the act of sending unsolicited lewd photographs a criminal offense.
Assemblywoman Dunn highlighted the evolution of sexual harassment and indecent exposure in the digital age, stressing the need for legal measures against the rampant issue of unsolicited [censored]ographic content. The bill, known as A1939, seeks to adapt existing lewdness statutes to include the non-consensual sharing of nude images, equating it to physical acts of indecency like flashing.
Under the proposed law, individuals caught sending unsolicited nude pictures would face charges as a disorderly persons offense, carrying penalties of up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The legislation introduces harsher repercussions for offenders targeting children under 13, with such acts being classified as fourth-degree crimes, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
The bill aims to offer protection to young women, who are disproportionately victimized by digital sexual harassment, by providing them with legal recourse against such violations. This initiative follows Dunn’s involvement in the passage of a 2023 law criminalizing sexual extortion, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to addressing sexual crimes in the digital realm.