TYLER, TX (WBAP/KLIF News) — The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler, Texas, has ruled that a state law banning so-called “revenge porn” violates First Amendment protections of free speech.
Revenge porn is the act of sharing sexually explicit photos and videos of a person without his or her consent for the purpose of shaming or embarrassing the person.
In its decision the court made it clear that it wasn’t expressing protection of private porn or its dissemination. Instead, they said the statute that was signed into Texas law was written too broadly. In a written ruling the court stated, “…it violates rights of too many third parties by restricting more speech than the Constitution permits,” It also said the law is vague and breaches the rights of third parties who may unintentionally share private images.
Lawmakers expressed frustration after the ruling. Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, tweeted. “This type of disgusting act must be punished.”
The court’s ruling will be appealed.
(Copyright 2018, WBAP/KLIF News. All rights reserved.)
