South Carolina § 16-15-332 - Disseminating intimate images without consent.

§ 16-15-332. Disseminating intimate images without consent.

(A) A person who intentionally disseminates an intimate image or a digitally forged intimate image of another person without the effective consent of the depicted person is guilty of the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images. A person intentionally disseminates an intimate image or a digitally forged intimate image if he has knowledge that the image was obtained or created under circumstances when he knew or reasonably should have known the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Any dissemination of multiple intimate images of the same individual as part of a common act is a single offense. The fact that the identifiable individual:

(1) provided affirmative consent for the creation of the intimate image shall not establish that the individual provided effective consent for the dissemination of the intimate image; and

(2) disclosed the intimate image to another individual shall not establish that the identifiable individual provided effective consent for the dissemination of the intimate image by the person alleged to have violated this section.

(B) A person who violates the provisions of this section, with the intent to cause physical, mental, economic, or reputational harm to the individual portrayed in the image, or for the purpose of profit or pecuniary gain, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, for a:

(1) first offense, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; or

(2) second or subsequent offense, after an intervening conviction or adjudication for a previous violation of the provisions of this section, must be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than one year but not more than ten years, or both. No part of the minimum sentence may be suspended nor probation granted.

(C) A person who violates the provisions of this section, without the intent to cause physical, mental, economic, or reputational harm to the individual portrayed in the image, or for the purpose of profit or pecuniary gain, for a:

(1) first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; or

(2) second or subsequent offense, after an intervening conviction or adjudication for a previous violation of the provisions of this section, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(D) Intimate images or digitally forged intimate images cannot be duplicated for the purpose of criminal discovery requests and motions.

(E) A violation of this section is not a lesser-included offense of any other applicable offense but is a separate offense and does not preclude charges under another applicable provision of law.

(F) The provisions of this section do not apply to any intimate image or digitally forged intimate image created by law enforcement pursuant to a criminal investigation which is otherwise lawful.

HISTORY: 2025 Act No. 37 (H.3058), SECTION 2, eff May 12, 2025.