Alabama State Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) has pre-filed a bill, SB35, aiming to expand the state’s definition of sexual extortion to encompass “revenge porn.” This proposed legislation would significantly broaden the existing law, which currently focuses solely on threats of physical or reputational harm to coerce sexual acts or the production of sexual content. Under the current statute, sexual extortion is a Class B felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment and a $30,000 fine.
Senator Allen’s bill would add a critical provision, making it a similarly punishable offense to threaten the release or transmission of sexually explicit images or videos of an individual—regardless of recognizability—to coerce them into any action against their will. This directly addresses the issue of revenge porn, a practice that causes significant emotional distress and harm to victims.
The bill is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Alabama’s action mirrors a national trend; several other states, such as Georgia (in 2021), have recently enacted legislation criminalizing revenge porn, recognizing its severity and the need for stronger legal protections for victims. If passed, SB35 would provide Alabamans with enhanced legal recourse against this increasingly prevalent form of online abuse.