CIVIC CENTER — After an ex-partner of four years sent private sexual images to her family and friends, Celenia was constantly depressed and crying.
"This has been a traumatic experience for me," said Celenia, a victim of "revenge porn" who declined to disclose her last name or age.
She deleted all her social media accounts and went to the NYPD, but "did not get much support," Celenia said at a press conference in front of City Hall on Wednesday.
There are currently no laws on the books in New York state to prevent anyone from disseminating private sexual images of adults via social media accounts, text messages or online. But a new City Council bill, introduced last month by Councilmen Rory Lancman and Dan Garodnick, would criminalize the act of sharing the images publicly, commonly known as "revenge porn."
"Revenge porn needs to be addressed and taken much more seriously," Celenia said.
Lancman said revenge porn is a form of cyberbullying that has "terrible consequences for the victims."
"This has the power to destroy someone's life," he said, while holding his smartphone aloft.
“With a click of a mouse, careers are put in jeopardy, relationships are damaged, and online harassment becomes a daily battle," said Garodnick. "We are going to do more to send a clear message that this behavior is unacceptable, and criminal, in New York City."
Both Garodnick and Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo referred to revenge porn as a form of domestic violence — and said in honor of October's domestic violence awareness month, they want to see the issue get the attention it deserves.
"This direct violation of privacy has the same disastrous effects on one’s personal life and livelihood," Cumbo said.
Assemblyman Ed Braunstein introduced a bill to the New York State Assembly to criminalize revenge porn in 2014, but it has languished in Albany due to lack of support, his team said.
There are 34 states around the nation with some law concerning the issue on the books, and "it's outrageous that New York hasn't followed [suit]," Braunstein said at the press conference.
They're hopeful they'll be able to build support and to pass the law in the upcoming Assembly session in January, Braunstein's Chief of Staff, David Fischer, said.
