FUKUSHIMA (TR) – In the first application of a law that seeks to restrict the distribution of sexually explicit content for revenge purposes, Fukushima Prefectural Police on Thursday arrested a 33-year-old male for allegedly releasing illicit images of his former girlfriend, reports public broadcaster NHK (Feb. 20).
Between January 25 and 27, Shinya Miyata, a company employee, is alleged to have scattered about 50 nude and semi-nude photos of his ex-girlfriend in a parking lot in Koriyama City.
Miyata, who took the photos while dating the woman, has admitted to the allegations.
The release of illicit photos or videos of a former acquaintance or spouse is prohibited under the law, which came into force in November.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 20), the measure intends to combat a rise in cases dubbed “revenge porn,” a tactic that was brought to the public’s attention after a former boyfriend of an 18-year-old girl uploaded images of her to social-networking sites before and after he killed her in Tokyo’s Mitaka City in 2013.
Convicted felons of the law face up to three years in prison or a fine of 500,000 yen.