New Dick-Pic paragraph: punishment for unwanted genital images!

New Dick-Pic paragraph: punishment for unwanted genital images!

As of today, September 1, 2025, a new paragraph comes into force in Austria, which puts the unauthorized sending of genital images. The so-called "Dick-Pic Paragraf" is an important step in the fight against digital violence and was described by the SPÖ federal manager Ruth Manninger as a milestone. The new paragraph 218, paragraph 1b of the Criminal Code punishes the unsolicited and deliberate sending of such images that affect young women in particular, and aims to protect women from sexual harassment online. In addition, Family Minister Claudia Plakolm and Minister of Education Christoph Return were mentioned in the announcement of the decision, both of which underlined the importance of a legally secured space on the Internet.

The announcement of the introduction of the new criminal offense was made by Justice Minister Anna Sporrer to the Council of Ministers. The new paragraph covers all electronic means of communication, including SMS, emails and Bluetooth. With this new regulation, people who send such images and thereby harass others must expect legal consequences. In the case of repeated sending or systematic behavior, the criminal offense of stalking can even apply. This highlights the government's zero tolerance policy towards violence against women.

Action plan to increase women's safety

In addition to the new paragraph, a national action plan to increase the safety of women was presented. This plan will be further fleshed out in the fall and aims to close existing gaps in protection against violence. The development was carried out in close cooperation between the Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Interior, Education and Justice Departments, and is based on the recommendations of the Council of Europe and new EU guidelines to combat gender-based violence. The inclusion of NGOs and scientific institutions is also planned.

A forward-looking law that is relevant in this context is the law against digital violence. This law is intended to make it easier for people whose digital identity has been violated to obtain information about the identity of users who are acting unlawfully. Providers of hosting services and online platforms must now appoint a domestic representative for service in order to be able to effectively implement court orders. This is to ensure that data is not deleted before a procedure is completed.

Overall, legislation represents a significant step towards a safer digital space. The new regulation not only protects women from harassment, but also promotes general security on the Internet. These developments are considered necessary by political science and legal experts in order to counteract the increasing digital violence and to strengthen victim protection.

The government is aware of the challenges that exist in the digital space and does everything possible to effectively ensure the protection of personal rights. OTS reports in detail about the new paragraph while the Small newspaper the effects on young women are examined in more detail. A comprehensive overview of the law against digital violence can also be found at Bmj.