Virginia Code 8.01-46.2: Civil action for dissemination of intimate images to another; penalty
A. As used in this section:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 8.01-46.2
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: shall include individuals, a trust, an estate, a partnership, an association, an order, a corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity;
6. See Virginia Code 8.01-2
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245
- Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
“Electronic communication device” means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-190.1.
“Intimate image” means a photograph, film, video, recording, digital picture, or other visual reproduction of a person 18 years of age or older who is in a state of undress so as to expose the human male or female genitals.
B. Any person 18 years of age or older who knowingly transmits an intimate image by computer or other electronic means to the computer or electronic communication device of another person 18 years of age or older when such other person has not consented to the use of his computer or electronic communication device for the receipt of such material or has expressly forbidden the receipt of such material shall be considered a trespass and shall be liable to the recipient of the intimate image for actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, in addition to reasonable attorney fees and costs. The court may also enjoin and restrain the defendant from committing such further acts.
The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting a remedy that is available under any other law.
C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any Internet service provider, mobile data provider, or operator of an online or mobile application, to the extent that such entity is transmitting, routing, or providing connections for electronic communications initiated by or at the direction of another; (ii) any service that transmits an intimate image, including an on-demand, subscription, or advertising-supported service; (iii) a health care provider as defined in § 8.01-581.1 that transmits an intimate image for a legitimate medical purpose; or (iv) any transmission of commercial electronic mail as defined in § 18.2-152.2.
D. Venue for an action under this section may lie in the jurisdiction where the intimate image is transmitted from or where the intimate image is received or possessed by the plaintiff.
2022, c. 523.