Hell hath no fury like a tech-savvy troll scorned, especially if they have nude pics of the person who scorned him.

‘Revenge porn’ happens when angry dirtbags ex-lovers upload intimate files of their once-significant others online.

It’s used to humiliate ex-partners by violating the trust that was implicit at the point in the relationship when the pictures were exchanged.

A majority of ‘revenge porn’ incidents are executed by men against women and therefore fall under the mandate of gender-based violence – the crime is a violation of consent and designed to humiliate an ex-partner.

Technology evolves at such a rapid rate that law enforcement and legal systems sometimes struggle to keep up, which is why the Films and Publications Amendment Bill, recently signed into law by President Ramaphosa is a step in the right direction.

According to W24, the bill states the following:

“Any person who knowingly distributes private sexual photographs and films in any medium including through the internet, without prior consent of the individual or individuals and where the individual or individuals in the photographs or films is identified or identifiable in the said photographs and films, shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction”.

In short, revenge porn is now officially illegal in South Africa.

The penalty for this offence could include a fine of up to R300 000, four years imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the crime.

According to Law For All, the latest addition to the law to address revenge porn in South Africa follows the likes of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Japan by criminalising the distribution of sexually explicit material without consent.

The USA, Canada and Israel also have laws against revenge porn with similar penalties.

A study released earlier this year found that 92% of young girls feel pressured to send nudes to prospective or current partners.

Technology has made it easier than ever to capture and send intimate pictures and videos, which, when shared with the right person, can contribute positively to a relationship.

Thankfully, the new law makes it harder for terrible humans to exploit that.

[source:w24]