No one deserves to have their private, intimate images shared with the public without their consent. This is especially true when you have shared them with a person you trusted. If this happens to you, there are legal options to consider with the help of a skilled personal injury attorney.
Distributing intimate photos or videos without your consent is a crime. You also have the right to pursue your own measure of justice in civil court. Instead of attempting to handle this personal injury case on your own, consider reaching out to a Tallahassee sexual cyber harassment lawyer.
Intimate Photos and the Right to Privacy
In some states, the law is unclear on whether or not a person has a reasonable right to privacy regarding explicit photos or videos they send to another person. Some believe that these images are protected, while others feel any expectation of privacy disappears once the material is shared with someone else.
There is no ambiguity on this question under state law. In the Sunshine State, a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy when they consensually share an explicit photo or image with another person. That means the recipient violates their privacy rights any time they share it with an unauthorized party.
Different consequences exist for this kind of privacy rights violation. For example, a person could be charged with sexual cyber harassment and face the prospect of jail time or fines.
There is also the option to file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator. Not only could a Tallahassee cyber sexual harassment attorney pursue legal action against the recipient of the explicit material, but also anyone else responsible for sharing it.
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Some Parties are Exempt From Cyber Sexual Harassment Suits
For the most part, anyone can face legal action for storing, sharing, or distributing intimate photos or videos without the consent of the person who is depicted in them. However, there are some limited exceptions to be aware of.
First, Computer companies and internet service providers are shielded from liability in these situations. Essentially, the companies and their employers are not liable for the material their customers store.
Law enforcement officers may also be immune to these claims. This is only the case when the officer shares these images in their official capacity, which could involve investigating a crime. These exceptions are rarely used, and a Tallahassee cyber sexual harassment attorney could advise when they are available.
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Potential Remedies
If a cyber sexual harassment case is successful, the court could issue an injunction against any parties sharing or hosting the material. Injunctive relief requires those parties to remove social media posts or destroy digital images that violate the law.
Recovering financial compensation is also an option. A victim could recover the higher of two amounts: $5,000 or the actual damages they suffered. Actual damages can cover a wide range of things, from the cost of therapy to expenses related to having images taken down from the internet.
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Speak to a Cyber Sexual Harassment Attorney in Tallahassee Today
If you have had an explicit photograph shared without your consent, you deserve justice. While the prospect of having to face the people who invaded your privacy can be difficult, you never have to do so on your own.
Let a Tallahassee cyber sexual harassment lawyer advocate for you. Call today for a confidential consultation with an attorney.
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