US man forced to pay $9m to revenge porn victim

A Californian man has been forced to pay almost $9 million in damages to his ex-girlfriend for spreading naked pictures and videos of her online.

The unnamed woman won $8.76m (US $6.45m), which is believed to be the second-largest revenge porn payout for a non-celebrity in US history.

She filed charges of copyright infringement, online impersonation with intent to harm, stalking, and the intentional infliction of emotional stress against her ex David Elam II in a civil court.

He had obtained the photos consensually during their relationship. When he began spreading the images online after their breakup, she copyrighted them to enable her to get them removed from some websites according to CNN.

The woman was represented for free through the Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project run by firm K & L Gates, which gives free assistance to nonconsensual pornography victims.

K & L Gates partner Seth Gold told CNN: "Revenge porn is a very serious violation of someone's rights and can lead to very serious injuries that are worthy of being redressed."

Sharing revenge porn in New Zealand can be an offence under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, and potentially other Acts according to Netsafe.

Prosecution under the Harmful Digital Communications Act can result in fines of up to $50,000 or a two year prison sentence for individuals, and fines of up to $200,000 for corporations.

Newshub.