December 10, 2004
New bill targets some peeping Toms
In one of its last moves of the year, Congress passed a bill that would levy heavy fines and prison time for anyone who sneaks photos or videos of people in various stages of undress, a problem lawmakers and activists called the new frontier of stalking, reports the AP.
"The bill, which President Bush is expected to sign, would make it a crime to videotape or photograph the naked or underwear-covered private parts of a person without consent when the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Conviction could lead to a fine of not more than $100,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both."
VIDEO VOYEUR LAW
The law: People who "capture an image of a private area of an individual without their consent" on federal property may be fined or imprisoned.
States with similar laws: Several states already have their own laws on video voyeurism. Federal judges are known for tougher sentencing than many of their state counterparts.
Bottom line: Cameraphone and now videophones are becoming more popular, and authorities are looking for ways to stop the illicit photographing of people in bathrooms, bedrooms and now public places.
Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004
Related articles:
-- NZ aims to jail 'up skirt' snappers
-- Thailand: Action urged over Thai camphone sex pests
-- USA: House approves video voyeurism crackdown
-- Singapore laws adequate to deal with cameraphone misuse
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2004/12/006338.htm
| Tweet |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
