House Cracks Down On Video Voyeurism
 

Associated Press
September 21, 2004 5:44 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Calling video voyeurism the new frontier of stalking, the House on Tuesday approved legislation to make it a crime to secretly photograph or videotape people, often for lascivious purposes.

The bill, passed by voice vote, would make it a crime to videotape or photograph the naked or underwear-covered private parts of a person without consent when the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Video voyeurism on federal lands would be punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R., Wis.) chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said the issue of surreptitious videotaping has become "a huge privacy concern" with the miniaturization of technology and the proliferation of cellphone cameras.

People have used these devices for purposes like secretly taking pictures beneath women's skirts in such places as school locker rooms, department store dressing rooms and private homes.

There are were many Web sites devoted to such pictures, where the images "can be instantly posted on the Internet for millions to view," said Rep. Michael Oxley (R., Ohio), who has promoted the legislation.

Secretly photographing people in a compromising position is against the law in some states, but there is no federal law. Mr. Oxley said the legislation could serve as a model for states that haven't enacted antivoyeurism laws.

The Senate unanimously passed a similar bill in June 2003. The Senate is expected to accept the minor changes made in the House bill.

Voyeur is probably one of the best converting niches i have ever pushed :(

hmm. i know a ton of people this is going to effect

Filming someone without their permission should be illegal. However, we all know that none of this is real.