Bill Would Make 'Revenge Porn' A Crime in Massachusetts

BOSTON (CBS) -- Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are considering a bill that would make "revenge porn" a crime.

Rep. Alan Silvia, D-Fall River, would have schools include instructions on the danger of posting explicit pictures online and make the practice punishable by a fine of $1,000 and up to a year in prison.

The recent suicides of two South Coast students prompted Silvia to introduce the bill, he says.

"Unfortunately, there are situations where people have a relationship and suddenly that relationship goes sour, and they learn that someone else is involved," he said. "Suddenly they want to do damage to their character or humiliate them."

Silvia said there have been several instances of students leaving the school district because of revenge porn cases.

Fourteen other states already have such laws.

"It's something that we have to give more and more attention to," Silvia said.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports: