It sucks that Australia requires laws to deter people / scumlords from spreading sexts without the permission of their subject, but at least figures from Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency demonstrate perpetrators are being charged.
Obviously it’s a good thing the legal system has devised suitable repercussions for the most modern of dog acts, but it is bloody maddening that schoolkids are included in that number.
According to statistics from the last 15 months – stretching back to when the laws first came into play – 174 sexting offences have been noted, with a stunning 29% of alleged offenders under the age of 17.
Of that number, most were handed warnings, but seven minors have actually been charged for “sending or threatening to distribute explicit images without consent.” According to our projections, that’s right about seven too many.
Worryingly, more than 70 offences were recorded in the first three months of this year – that’s about 30 more than were noted in the three months ending 2015. We can only hope that’s due to the legal system – and the public – realising the power of the new laws. And using the hell outta them.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s seizure of the figures comes smack-bang in the middle of an almighty backlash against some students of Brighton Grammar School, who thought it’d be an A+ idea to run an Instagram account using young girls’ images in exploitative ways and without permission.
It’s worth noting at this point that there are concessions written into the law that allow the ~ consensual ~ transmission of raunchy snaps between you young guns. Even the state recognises that y’all shouldn’t land on sex offender registers due to the most contemporary expressions of affection.
Be safe and not shitty, guys.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Photo: Al Drago / Getty.
Photo: Al Drago / Getty.
