It is Illegal in California to Post Nude Pictures of Someone Without Their Permission.
In California, it is both a crime and a civil tort to post nude pictures of someone online without their permission. If you have been a victim, you should immediately reach out to an attorney to discuss your rights and best next steps. Attorneys at Broderick & Saleen and experienced in internet and privacy violation cases, and can help you get the illicit pictures or video off the internet, and also get compensation against the perpetrator that violated your rights.
The California Penal Code that makes it a crime to post someone’s intimate pictures without their permission is detailed below.
California Penal Code Section 647(j)(4)
(A) (i) A person who intentionally distributes or causes to be distributed the image of the intimate body part or parts of another identifiable person, or an image of the person depicted engaged in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or an image of masturbation by the person depicted or in which the person depicted participates, when subclauses (I) to (III), inclusive, are all true:
(I) The person distributing the image knows or should know that the distribution of the image will cause serious emotional distress.
(II) The person depicted suffers serious emotional distress.
(III) One of the following has occurred:
(ia) The person depicted in the image and the person distributing the image had agreed or had an understanding that the image shall remain private.
(ib) The image was knowingly recorded, captured, or otherwise obtained by the person distributing the image without the authorization of the person depicted, and the image was recorded or captured under circumstances in which the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(ic) The image is knowingly obtained by the person distributing the image by exceeding authorized access from the property, accounts, messages, files, or resources of the person depicted.
(ii) A person who intentionally creates and distributes or causes to be distributed any photo realistic image, digital image, electronic image, computer image, computer-generated image, or other pictorial representation of an intimate body part or parts of another identifiable person, or an image of the person depicted engaged in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, or an image of masturbation by the person depicted or in which the person depicted participates that was created in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to believe the image is an authentic image of the person depicted, under circumstances in which the person distributing the image knows or should know that distribution of the image will cause serious emotional distress, and the person depicted suffers that distress. This clause shall not apply to a person who was under 18 years of age at the time the person committed the offense.
(B) (i) A person intentionally distributes an image described in subparagraph (A) when that person personally distributes the image.
(ii) A person intentionally causes an image described in subparagraph (A) to be distributed when that person arranges, specifically requests, or intentionally causes another person to distribute the image.
(C) As used in this paragraph, the following terms have the following meanings:
(i) “Distribute” includes exhibiting in public or giving possession.
(ii) “Identifiable” has the same meaning as in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(iii) “Intimate body part” means any portion of the genitals, the anus and, in the case of a female, also includes any portion of the breasts below the top of the areola, that is either uncovered or clearly visible through clothing.
(D) It shall not be a violation of this paragraph to distribute an image described in subparagraph (A) if any of the following applies:
(i) The distribution is made in the course of reporting an unlawful activity.
(ii) The distribution is made in compliance with a subpoena or other court order for use in a legal proceeding.
(iii) The distribution is made in the course of a lawful public proceeding.
(iv) The distribution is related to a matter of public concern or public interest. Distribution is not a matter of public concern or public interest solely because the depicted individual is a public figure.
