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| 'Revenge porn' site owner arrested in San Diego | 'Revenge porn' site owner arrested in San Diego |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the running of a "revenge porn" website. | A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the running of a "revenge porn" website. |
| Kevin Bollaert is accused of being behind UGotPosted, a site that published intimate photographs of people against their wishes. | Kevin Bollaert is accused of being behind UGotPosted, a site that published intimate photographs of people against their wishes. |
| It would link to relevant social networks of the subjects pictured. | It would link to relevant social networks of the subjects pictured. |
| Prosecutors said the website also sought to extort money from the people featured on the site by charging a fee to have pictures taken down. | Prosecutors said the website also sought to extort money from the people featured on the site by charging a fee to have pictures taken down. |
| "This website published intimate photos of unsuspecting victims and turned their public humiliation and betrayal into a commodity with the potential to devastate lives," California Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a statement. | |
| "Online predators that profit from the extortion of private photos will be investigated and prosecuted for this reprehensible and illegal internet activity." | "Online predators that profit from the extortion of private photos will be investigated and prosecuted for this reprehensible and illegal internet activity." |
| The authorities alleged that Mr Bollaert also ran changemyreputation.com, a site that offered services to have pictures from UGotPosted removed for a fee of about $300 (£180). | The authorities alleged that Mr Bollaert also ran changemyreputation.com, a site that offered services to have pictures from UGotPosted removed for a fee of about $300 (£180). |
| According to court documents, he is said to have made "around $900 per month from advertising on the site and records obtained from his changemyreputation.com PayPal account indicate that he received payments totalling tens of thousands of dollars". | According to court documents, he is said to have made "around $900 per month from advertising on the site and records obtained from his changemyreputation.com PayPal account indicate that he received payments totalling tens of thousands of dollars". |
| More than 10,000 images had been posted to the site, arranged by location, police said. | More than 10,000 images had been posted to the site, arranged by location, police said. |
| In addition to the photographs, each entry would display a range of contact details - including links to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, places of work and other personal information. | In addition to the photographs, each entry would display a range of contact details - including links to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, places of work and other personal information. |
| Mr Bollaert is being held in a San Diego jail on $50,000 (£30,000) bail. He has not yet entered a plea. | Mr Bollaert is being held in a San Diego jail on $50,000 (£30,000) bail. He has not yet entered a plea. |
| Distress | Distress |
| As part of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained to look through emails sent to ugotposted@gmail.com - the address used by the site administrator. | As part of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained to look through emails sent to ugotposted@gmail.com - the address used by the site administrator. |
| "Please help!" read one email. "I am scared for my life!" | "Please help!" read one email. "I am scared for my life!" |
| The woman - named in court only as Jane Doe #6 - said she felt unable to go back to work as people who had seen the picture had then called her office. | The woman - named in court only as Jane Doe #6 - said she felt unable to go back to work as people who had seen the picture had then called her office. |
| Jane Doe #6 also noted that she may have been under 18 years old when the pictures in question had been taken. | Jane Doe #6 also noted that she may have been under 18 years old when the pictures in question had been taken. |
| Another victim said over 100 people had tried to contact her after being featured on the website. | Another victim said over 100 people had tried to contact her after being featured on the website. |
| ID theft | ID theft |
| Revenge porn sites have typically been difficult to shut down thanks to what many see as outdated laws surrounding the publishing of images. | Revenge porn sites have typically been difficult to shut down thanks to what many see as outdated laws surrounding the publishing of images. |
| A common hurdle for law enforcement is the Communications Decency Act, which has been used as a defence for website owners who have found their services being used for hosting or distributing illegal material. | A common hurdle for law enforcement is the Communications Decency Act, which has been used as a defence for website owners who have found their services being used for hosting or distributing illegal material. |
| The crime - the defendants have repeatedly successfully argued - is perpetrated by the user who uploaded the images, not the owner of the website. | The crime - the defendants have repeatedly successfully argued - is perpetrated by the user who uploaded the images, not the owner of the website. |
| Another closed revenge porn site, IsAnyoneUp.com, was targeted by campaigners who said it was a gross invasion of privacy. | Another closed revenge porn site, IsAnyoneUp.com, was targeted by campaigners who said it was a gross invasion of privacy. |
| However, in this case the most effective way to see the content removed, at least from Google search results, was by using copyright law. | However, in this case the most effective way to see the content removed, at least from Google search results, was by using copyright law. |
| If the person in a picture also took it - a "selfie" - then a copyright claim can be made to search engines under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, known as DMCA, designed to make it easier to stop pirated content from spreading online. | If the person in a picture also took it - a "selfie" - then a copyright claim can be made to search engines under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, known as DMCA, designed to make it easier to stop pirated content from spreading online. |
| In targeting UGotPosted, prosecutors used a different approach - pressing charges of ID theft and extortion. | In targeting UGotPosted, prosecutors used a different approach - pressing charges of ID theft and extortion. |
| Law makers in several US states are looking at ways to crack down on revenge porn. | Law makers in several US states are looking at ways to crack down on revenge porn. |
| In October, California enacted a new law that made posting explicit images of someone without permission punishable with six months in prison. | In October, California enacted a new law that made posting explicit images of someone without permission punishable with six months in prison. |