Sending unwanted naked pictures could become illegal in Pennsylvania

A woman on her phone.
Photo credit diego_cervo/Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia state representative wants to make it illegal for people to send unwanted pictures of naked body parts to another person, and it all started with a worried dad.

A Philly father was concerned about his teen daughter getting pictures from boys of their naked body, so he went to State Rep. Mary Isaacson. 

"This is becoming a problem that is more prolific," Isaacson said. 

So she did some research.

"The Texas Legislature had just passed a bill dealing with this subject and the transmission of sexually explicit images," she said. 

She created a bill that would fine the sender of the unsolicited naked pictures up to $300 or imprison them up to 90 days. 

"This is nothing but another form of indecent exposure," she said. 

Isaacson says she's heard stories from both her constituents and activists about people AirDropping or sending such unwanted pictures to random people, those they're dating, and even to children.

"What we now have because of our smart phone culture, and even because of rape and harassment culture, is that we have the ability to use pictures against people's consent," she added. 

Shehas bipartisan support but is looking for other state representatives to jump on board.