Military Issues New Orders Against Using Non-consensual Images As Cyber-bullying & Revenge Porn

The US Navy and Marine Corps took action Wednesday around the recent sharing online of non-consensual photos of military women. Both branches of the military officially barred service members from distributing nude photos without the consent of individuals depicted in the images. 

Both the navy and marines issued the changes via regulations changes, making them the equivalents of orders, which can be enforced by a military court. The regulation puts Marines and sailors who participate in what is commonly known as "revenge porn" in the crosshairs of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, punishable by up to two years confinement.

The change was announced in an all-service message signed by acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley as an interim update to the official book of Navy regulations. When a new edition of the document is printed, the prohibition against photo distribution will be included.

Prohibited behavior now includes physical electronic sharing of intimate photos without legal justification or cause and without knowledge of consent, writes the Military Times. "These photos cannot be distributed with intent to realize personal gain; with the intent to humiliate, harm, harass, threaten, or coerce the subject; or with "reckless disregard" as to whether sharing the photos would have such an effect, the language of the new regulation states."

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller also signed new social media guidelines last month in order to clarify that the military code of justice punishments that apply to social media sexual harassment are the same as those that apply to all other forms of sexual harassment.

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