State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

RI: Raimondo vetoes 'revenge porn' bill, saying it could chill free speech

Providence Journal: PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Exercising her veto power for the first time since taking office, Governor Raimondo has nixed a bill to prohibit the posting of "revenge porn" and create new criminal penalties, at the same time, for those who engage in "sextortion.’’

In her veto message signed late Monday night, Raimondo said, in part, "The bill is apparently intended to curb the dissemination of private sexual material over the internet, but its sweep is much broader. It could also cover works of art that depict the human body. And unlike virtually all other similar state statutes, H7537 does not include basic safeguards such as the requirement that 'intent to harass' be demonstrated for conduct to be criminal."

Read article