Society has largely destigmatized sexual activity. However, people can still experience professional and personal consequences if other people become too aware of their personal sexual history.
Those who have images or videos of former romantic partners may need to destroy them or ensure that they do not end up exposed to the public. Failing to do so could lead to criminal charges.
Georgia has strong revenge porn laws
It is a criminal act to disseminate intimate or otherwise private images or videos of another person without their consent. Whether one person uploads a video of sexual activity to the internet or shares it to a group chat with coworkers, they may have violated the rights of the other person captured in those videos or pictures.
As such, first offenses related to the revenge porn law result in less severe penalties. A conviction might lead to up to 12 months in jail and $5,000 in fines as a high and aggravated misdemeanor.
In scenarios where an individual has a prior conviction for the same offense or shared content to a location where widespread dissemination is likely, they could face felony charges. The penalties possible could include up to $100,000 in fines and up to five years in jail.
In some cases, what initially seems like revenge porn might not be. There may have been an accidental upload, or the sharing may have occurred before the end of a relationship in a scenario where the party sharing the images believed that they had consent.
Reviewing the circumstances that led to allegations of sharing revenge porn with a skilled legal team can help defendants determine the best path forward. Anyone facing criminal charges related to intimate images or relationships may need help protecting themselves from the fallout of those allegations.