House lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill Wednesday that would create new military law aimed at nude photo sharing in the wake of the Marines United social media scandal.
Under the bill filed by Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., and backed by over 100 cosponsors, it would be illegal for troops to post identifiable nude photos on social media without first getting consent from the person pictured — even if that person originally consented to making the images.
“This new provision will give commanders an additional specific tool and send a clear message to servicemembers that this behavior is unacceptable and is, in fact, a crime,” McSally said recently on the House floor.
The legislation comes on the heels of revelations earlier this year that nude and revealing photos of active-duty troops were being shared on the Marines United Facebook page and numerous other sites.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service launched an ongoing probe that could result in criminal punishments.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, the unique set of laws that governs the military, already contains provisions dealing with nude photos. Critics have said a legal loophole exists when photos are taken consensually and then later shared without consent online.
The House bill adds another punitive provision to the military code that allows that activity to be taken to a court martial.
Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the prohibition on the photo sharing is not as clear as it should be in current military law.
“I continue to be disturbed by deplorable acts that degrade our service members,” Thornberry said in a released statement. “I am encouraged, however, that the House took swift and significant action to begin addressing the issue by strengthening the UCMJ to ensure that personnel are protected and that perpetrators are held appropriately accountable.”
