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Revenge porn, or the practice of sharing intimate pictures of someone without their permission, now has a penalty attached to it. As Matt Galka tells us, a former Florida State student who was instrumental in the bill’s passing says it’s about time.

Former Florida State student Carly Hellstrom had limited options two years ago. She was a victim of revenge porn, when an ex boyfriend posted intimate pictures of her online without her permission.

There was no law to punish the ex boyfriend until now.  Florida’s revenge porn law went on the books this week. Hellstrom was instrumental in the bill’s passing earlier this year, and says it’s about time the law went into effect.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling, it’s been a long process and ugh, a long time, and I just feel a feeling of relief and a sense of closure, that victims aren’t going to suffer what I suffered through,” she said.

Anybody caught participating in revenge porn will be hit with a first degree misdemeanor, but Hellstrom says the law could be stronger.

The bill’s sponsor said lawmakers could do more before it eventually passed.

“It doesn’t provide the protection it ought to for these crimes,” said Sen. David Simmons (R-Altamonte Springs).

One shortcoming of the bill: it doesn’t help a victim get pictures or videos removed the internet.

Carly Hellstrom moved to New York after graduating FSU earlier this year, and says now that Florida is one of only 16 states to criminalize revenge porn, maybe it’s New York’s turn.