Assembly bill approved makes re-posting a "sext" from an "ex" a crime

MADISON (WITI) -- The State Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday, November 12th that makes it a crime to re-post a "sext" from an ex. It's a practice known as "revenge porn" -- publishing sexual photos without permission after a breakup.

"Once it's on the internet, it's there forever. For the most part there's no taking back the crime after it's already occurred," said State. Rep. Robin Vos of Racine.

Now, "revenge porn" would be a crime -- a misdemeanor punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and nine months in jail.

"Boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife. That's why they call it revenge. Somebody using it in a vengeful way. What this bill does is put a penalty there and make it so they can't do it without the other person's permission," said State. Rep. John Spiros of Marshfield, the author of the bill.

Supporters said Wisconsin would join New Jersey and California to have such a law.

It's hard to tell how widespread the practice is. But as technology changes, the Legislature wants state law to keep up.

"I hope that the message that we send is number one, it's a crime. Number two, if you're going to do it, think twice," said Vos.

The bill has bipartisan support.