'Revenge porn' ban introduced in California

California this week became the first state to ban so-called revenge pornsexually-explicit photos intended for private use that get posted online by a vengeful partner after a couple breaks up.

As It Happens co-host Carol Off speaks with Charlotte Laws, who has worked closely with California State Senator Anthony Cannella to fight for the new law.

The new law makes revenge porna misdemeanouroffencepunishable in California by up to six months in jail anda $1,000 US fine.

However, Laws says the new law will only protect about 10 to 20 per cent of victims of revenge pornbecause it does not cover photos taken by the victim. She says 80 to 90 per cent of the photos that end posted online are photos that are "self-shot," so she hopes the law will eventually be amended to protect all victims of revenge porn.

Prior to the introduction of the new law, victims in California hadto sue people who posted their photo online.