Legislatures across the nation, including here in Illinois, are considering proposals to address the practice of "revenge porn," where a former partner uploads intimate photos to a website designed to host such images and video.  While the ACLU abhors this practice, we are concerned that some language in these laws go too far.   In particular, free  speech concerns over language in an anti-revenge porn  Illinois State Senate bill remain after the legislation moved out of committee and onto the Senate floor for consideration. State Senator Michael Hastings, the bill’s sponsor, and personal-story testimony presented at committee hearings, advocated for passage of the bill as a means to prevent abusive cyber bullying of an ex-partner in a sexual situation. According to The Chicago Sun-Times, Hastings deflected suggested language modifications to the bill raised by Mary Dixon, ACLU of Illinois' Legislative Director.  Dixon expressed concerns that:

...the wording of the bill might not stand up to the protection of free speech guaranteed in the First Amendment. Dixon said laws could regulate free speech, but they must be “carefully and narrowly tailored,” something she said Hastings’ bill could work on by including language on malicious intent and emotional harm.

Read the entire article.