The bill amends Section 11-64-3 of the General Laws regarding "Unauthorized dissemination of indecent material" to criminalize the unauthorized dissemination of sexually explicit images of another person. It specifies that a person is guilty of this offense if they intentionally disseminate, publish, or sell such images created by digital devices or altered by digitization without the consent of the depicted individual, particularly if the images were created under circumstances where privacy was expected. The bill clarifies that the images may include those depicting sexually explicit conduct or the intimate areas of the person.

The act outlines penalties for violations, which may range from misdemeanors for first offenses to felonies for subsequent offenses. It also addresses threats to disclose such images for personal gain and demands for payment in exchange for removing the images from public view.

Exceptions to the offense are provided for images involving voluntary exposure in public settings or dissemination made in the public interest, scientific, or educational contexts. The act ensures that individuals convicted under this section will not be subject to sex offender registration requirements and clarifies that liability will not be imposed on interactive computer services for content provided by others. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5046: 11-64-3