(1)(a) An actor who is eighteen years of age or older commits the offense of posting a private image for harassment if the actor posts or distributes through the use of social media or any website any photograph, video, or other image displaying the real or simulated private intimate parts of an identified or identifiable person eighteen years of age or older or an image displaying sexual acts of an identified or identifiable person:(I) With the intent to harass, intimidate, or coerce the depicted person;(II)(A) Without the depicted person's consent; or(B) When the actor knew or should have known that the depicted person had a reasonable expectation that the image would remain private; and(III) The conduct results in serious emotional distress of the depicted person.(b) Posting a private image for harassment is a class 1 misdemeanor.(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 18-1.3-501 (1)(a), in addition to any other sentence the court may impose, the court shall fine the defendant up to ten thousand dollars. The fines collected pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be credited to the crime victim compensation fund created in section 24-4.1-117, C.R.S.(2.5) It is not a defense to an alleged violation of this section that the image is partially digitally created or altered or that the private intimate parts were digitally created or altered.(3) Nothing in this section precludes punishment under any section of law providing for greater punishment.(4)(b) An individual whose private intimate parts have been posted or an individual who has had an image displaying sexual acts of the individual posted in accordance with this section shall retain a protectable right of authorship regarding the commercial use of the private image.(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose liability on the provider of an interactive computer service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. sec. 230 (f)(2), an information service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. sec. 153, or a telecommunications service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. sec. 153, for content provided by another person.(6) For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Displaying sexual acts" means any display of sexual acts even if the private intimate parts are not visible in the image.(b) "Image" means a photograph, film, videotape, recording, digital file, or other reproduction.(c) "Private intimate parts" means external genitalia or the perineum or the anus or the pubes of any person or the breast of a female.(d) "Sexual acts" means sexual intrusion or sexual penetration as defined by section 18-3-401.(e) "Social media" means any electronic medium, including an interactive computer service, telephone network, or data network, that allows users to create, share, and view user-generated content, including but not limited to videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant messages, electronic mail, or internet website profiles.Amended by 2024 Ch. 402,§ 5, eff. 8/7/2024, app. to offenses committed and claims filed on or after 8/7/2024.Amended by 2019 Ch. 88, § 2, eff. 4/8/2019.Amended by 2018 Ch. 192, § 1, eff. 7/1/2018.Added by 2014 Ch. 283, § 1, eff. 7/1/2014.L. 2014: Entire section added, (HB 14-1378), ch. 1160, p. 1160, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2018: IP(1)(a), (1)(a)(I), and (4) amended, (2) repealed, and (6) R&RE, (HB 18-1264), ch. 1276, p. 1276, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2019: (4)(a) repealed, (SB 19 -100), ch. 330, p. 330, § 2, effective April 8.Section 8 of chapter 402 (SB 24-011), Session Laws of Colorado 2024, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed and claims filed on or after August 7, 2024.
2024 Ch. 402, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3). For the legislative declaration in SB 24-011, see section 1 of chapter 402, Session Laws of Colorado 2024.