[ad_1]
The publication of intimate images without the consent of a person will carry a sentence of up to seven years in prison under the laws that are expected to be approved by the Cabinet tomorrow.
It is understood that Justice Minister Helen McEntee will seek Cabinet approval for laws that will also broaden the scope of harassment offenses, to include constant communication with or about a person, with a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. .
Follow the alleged exchange of thousands of images of Irish women on online forums.
Two new crimes will be included in the amendments to the bill on harassment, harmful communication and other related crimes.
The first offense will refer to the distribution or publication of intimate images without consent and with the intention of causing harm. It is intended to impose a maximum penalty of unlimited fine and / or seven years in prison.
The second crime will refer to the taking, distribution or publication of intimate images without consent, without the requirement that the person intended to cause harm to the victim of the crime.
This crime is expected to carry a maximum penalty of 5,000 euros in fine and / or 12 months in prison.
The fact that the person has given their consent to the taking of an image will be irrelevant if it is subsequently published or distributed without their consent.
It will be an aggravating factor for the purposes of the sentence if the perpetrator has or had an intimate relationship with the victim of the crime.
The bill is silent on the types of technology that can be used to commit crimes in order to cover all forms of online and offline communications that cause harm to a victim.
The amendments will also expand the scope of the crime of harassment to cover consistent communications to or about a person, not just indecent images, and will increase the penalty from seven to ten years.
It is understood that Minister McEntee has cross-party support for the bill and has worked closely with Brendan Howlin of the Labor Party, who introduced the bill last Dail.
It is scheduled to be held in commission in the Dáil on December 1.
[ad_2]