Proposed 'Bianca's Law' passes hurdle in Assembly | Rome Daily Sentinel - Rome Sentinel

ALBANY — A new law inspired by Utica murder victim Bianca Devins and her family has been passed in the state Assembly, according to Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, who sponsored the bill. A similar bill has been introduced in the state Senate and remains in committee.

The proposed law would create new offenses related to unlawfully disseminating personal images, and will create a private right of action for these offenses. Devins, 17, was killed in Utica in July 2019, and authorities said her killer posted pictures of her dead and mutilated body on the internet.

Users from across the world then downloaded and saved those pictures.

Devins’ family have said that they have been repeatedly and continuously harassed in the years since by people on the internet either sharing those pictures or sending them directly to family members.

“Nearly three years ago, the life of 17-year-old Bianca Devins was cut short in a senseless act of violence,” said Buttenschon, D-119, Marcy.

“Her tragic death was exploited for likes and follows after her attacker posted pictures of her body to various social media sites,” the Marcy Democrat said.

“Nobody should ever have to endure a trauma like this. Bianca and her family deserve peace, and this legislation would ensure that those who share images online to degrade or humiliate others will be held accountable for their actions,” the assemblywoman added.

Buttenschon said social media sites like Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter have been “slow and inconsistent” when it comes to removing these pictures.

“These images have no place on the internet and social media, and those individuals who attempt to capitalize from disseminating gruesome or demeaning images should face consequences for the trauma they cause,” Buttenschon noted in a release.

Devins’ killer, Brandon A. Clark, was sentenced in March 2021 to 25 years to life in state prison.

source: https://romesentinel.com/stories/proposed-biancas-law-passes-hurdle-in-assembly,127971

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