HB1967

House Bill 1967 amends Arkansas law regarding the unlawful distribution of sexual images or recordings, commonly referred to as 'revenge porn.' The bill broadens the definition of the offense by removing the previous requirement that the victim be a family member, household member, or dating partner of the perpetrator. It explicitly defines 'intimate image' and 'identifiable' to clarify what constitutes illegal distribution. The legislation stipulates that it is not a defense to prosecution that the victim originally consented to the creation of the image or shared it with the defendant. The bill establishes a tiered penalty structure, classifying the offense as a Class A misdemeanor, Class D felony, or Class C felony depending on the circumstances, such as financial gain, intent to cause harm, or previous offenses. Additionally, it provides protections for telecommunications and information service providers regarding content distributed by third parties.