Revenge porn is posting nude or sexual based pictures of a person without that person’s knowledge or approval. Many people, including famous people, have been prosecuted for this. Now Google is combating this violation.
Google is expected to honor requests that remove revenge porn pictures from it’s search engine. They already do that to websites with sensitive information like bank account information. In the coming weeks, victims can fill out a online form requesting such photos be taken down. Many many people, including former victims, tech leaders, cyber crime fighters, law professors, anti-bullying activists, lawmakers, even celebrities praise this move. They know Google is the #1 search engine in the world and biggest corporation in the world. With that power comes major influence. Google Senior VP Amit Singhal said, “But revenge porn images are intensely personal and emotionally damaging, and serve only to degrade the victim ? predominantly women.” Congresswomen Jackie Speier (D-CA) is leading the push for legislation to ban revenge porn altogether. Comedian and talk show host John Oliver will expose this topic on his HBO hit show Last Week Tonight. A University of Maryland law professor named Danielle Citron points out how damaging revenge porn can be and can wreck nearly every aspect of the victim’s life.
Computer Geeks will join in praising this action. This sort of issue is hardly new. Remember what actress/r&b star Vanessa Williams had to endure during her Miss America reign back in 1984? Now, they use the Internet and social media to spew such venom. And it’s happening more often. In the 1980s, only a handful could see these unapproved photos in obscure magazines. Today, billions can see your nude photos all over the world. It can cost you your job, your marriage/long term relationship, your family, and in some cases, people have even been driven to suicide by online shaming. Some will defend the revenge porn suspect in the name of free speech. But with free speech comes responsibility. How can anyone call the savage act of revenge porn responsible?