Edly-Allen Legislation Adding Protections for Victims of Revenge Porn Signed Into Law Nearly One Year After Sauer Scandal

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A legislative initiative spearheaded by state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, enacting new protections for victims of revenge porn was signed into law on Aug. 23. The landmark reforms were signed almost one year after allegations surfaced that former state Rep. Nick Sauer used sexually explicit images of his ex-girlfriend to ‘catfish’ other men online.

“Disseminating, sharing or posting private images of someone without their consent is more than just an egregious violation of privacy. It’s a form of sexual abuse, and it needs to be taken seriously,” said Edly-Allen. “For victims, the consequences go far beyond embarrassment and can result in long-term loss of income, professional harm, severe emotional distress and legal fees.”

Edly-Allen’s Senate Bill 1507, now Public Act 101-0556, allows victims of revenge porn to pursue civil damages against individuals who disseminate or threaten to disseminate private sexual images without their consent. In addition, the legislation allows victims to have their names redacted or use a pseudonym in court documents to protect their identity and privacy. The initiative was met with contentious debate in the House where some legislators advocated for maintaining the status quo and weakening the strong protections for victims offered by Edly-Allen.

“There were some in Springfield that demonstrated they wanted to maintain the status quo and stand on the wrong side of history by fighting against victims’ rights. They should know better. I refused to back down,” Edly-Allen added. “This new law is a critical step forward as we work to support victims and deter this type of behavior.”