Amber Heard wants non-consensual pornography punishable by up to five years in prison and spoke in Washington DC Wednesday about why the SHIELD Act should be introduced into federal law.
The actress – who was one of many stars whose nude photographs were leaked online by hackers in 2014 – took to the Capitol Hill Visitor Center to support Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution.
'Non-consensual porn is one of the worst violations of privacy and it doesn't discriminate, instead it disproportionately affects women around the world with devastating consequences,' Heard said in her speech as she was flanked by bill sponsors Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.).
'Intimate content released into the internet is virtually impossible to remove, further subjecting victims to harassment and judgment from strangers and acquaintances alike.'
Heard made her speech as she was flanked by bill sponsors Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.).
Heard was one of many celebrities whose iCloud photos were posted on 4chan by hackers in August 2014. She is pictured in September 2014 (left with now-ex husband Johnny Depp)
This bipartisan legislation seeks to address the exploitation of private, sexually explicit or nude images often referred to as 'revenge porn' or 'sextortion.'
It would ensure that the Department of Justice has an appropriate and effective tool to address privacy violations and narrowly establish federal criminal liability for individuals who share private, sexually explicit or nude images without consent.
It also aims to strike an effective balance between protecting the victims and ensuring that vibrant online speech is not burdened.
Heard hopes it will deter people from violating the privacy of others.
'It can result and often does in devastating and economic, social psychological consequences,' Heard added. 'My stolen and manipulated photos are still online to this day, posted again and again with sexually explicit and humiliating and degrading headlines about my body, about myself.'
Heard spoke about even her mother having access to her private images shared with the world
