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New Laws Target Video Voyeurs
In response to the growing problem of video voyeurism, referred to as "the new frontier of stalking," the U.S. Congress has passed a bill that would levy heavy fines and prison time for anyone who sneaks photos or videos of people in various stages of undressing. The Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004 (Bill S.1301), which President Bush is expected to sign, makes it a crime to knowingly capture (by videotape, photograph, film, or any other means, or broadcast) an image of an individual's naked or undergarment clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or breasts without consent when that individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Conviction could lead to a fine of $100,000, imprisonment for one year, or both.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand government has announced that it will introduce an Intimate Covert Filming bill that will make it an offence to make, publish and possess so-called "up skirt" images and other voyeuristic recordings. Under the proposed bill, recklessly or intentionally making, publishing or distributing voyeuristic material recorded without consent will carry a penalty of up to three years in prison, while knowingly possessing such material without reasonable cause will become an offence carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail. The New Zealand government plans to introduce the bill early next year.
For a copy of the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004, visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/ and enter "S.1301" in the "Bill Number" field.
For the press release announcing the Intimate Covert Filming bill, visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.cfm?DocumentID=21433
For more information, visit:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52911-2004Dec9.html