One of the many bills signed by Governor Younkin recently was a vital bill that will make it illegal to electronically send unsolicited nude images in the state of Virginia unless solicited by the receiver.
Backed by the popular dating app Bumble, the bill penalizes any offenders over the age of 18 years to be “liable to the recipient of the intimate image for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, in addition to reasonable attorney fees and costs.” The efforts were spurred by a survey the company ran that found one in three women have received a nude image and 96% of those women said the image was unwanted, according to 7 News.
Payton Iheme, Bumble’s Head of Public Policy for the Americas, released the following statement, praising the law for holding people responsible in this digital age.
“We are thrilled to have helped spearhead this monumental moment in Virginia. Living in a digital-first world means that penalties don’t typically apply to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people online, and this bill is a step in that direction.”
The law is set to go into effect on July 1, along with over 700 other bills that Youngkin has signed into law. This is an exciting time in Virginia, as Youngkin’s administration is making an effort to enact meaningful changes to solve modern problems. (RELATED: Youngkin Has Now Signed More than 700 Bills Into Law)