Suffolk lawmaker introduces state 'revenge porn' bill

"Revenge porn" -- private nude photographs or explicit videos posted online to strike back at someone -- would be punished by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine under a New York State bill introduced Thursday by Sen. Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore).

Boyle, citing cases in Florida, Texas and California, said the posted material is often linked to the victim's personal information, such as Facebook pages, or home and work addresses.

"I think, unfortunately, with the growth of social media, we might see more of these crimes than we thought of in the past," Boyle said. "We must protect women who obviously are affected by this."

The bill classifies the new crime as a Class A misdemeanor that carries the standard jail sentence and fine.

A similar measure, sponsored by Assemb. Edward Braunstein (D-Bayside) and Sen. Joseph Griffo (R-Rome), would impose a $30,000 fine. The stiffer fine matches the one New Jersey included in its 2004 invasion of privacy law, which last year was used to prosecute a Rutgers student who captured his roommate's sexual encounter on a webcam, which led to the roommate's suicide.

"I certainly would go with the highest potential penalty," Boyle said.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a revenge porn law on Wednesday, but that law, unlike the New York bills, excludes pictures or videos taken by victims.