Dick pics will become a criminal offense from September 2023: Police sound the alarm!

Dick pics will become a criminal offense from September 2023: Police sound the alarm!

From September 1, 2023, sending unsolicited penis pictures, also known as dick pics, will be a punishable offense in Austria. This regulation is an addition to Section 218 of the Criminal Code, which deals with sexual harassment and public sexual acts. Loud crown The penalties for such transfers can be up to six months in prison or fines of up to 360 daily rates.

The change in the law aims to classify the sending of genital images as harassing as soon as it is perceived as such. The new regulations apply to all common means of communication such as SMS, MMS, emails, instant messages, posting, AirDrop and Bluetooth.

Reactions and concerns

The Austrian Bar Association (ÖRAK) has expressed concerns and speaks of a possible “excessive criminalization” of behavior, especially among young people. The chamber calls for the regulation to be restricted to more serious cases and points out that recipients often have the opportunity to stop harassers by blocking them. These notices were also provided by The press taken up, which also emphasizes the upcoming review period for the ban.

Existing laws, such as Section 107c of the Criminal Code, criminalize the sending of unsolicited genital images to a large number of people. Here the penalties are significantly stricter, with possible prison sentences of up to one year or fines of up to 720 daily rates. The ÖRAK proposes to extend the scope of paragraph 107c to private harassment.

Protection of children and young people

Against the background of this new regulation, it is also important to take the protection of children and young people into account. Loud commissioned-abuse.de National laws and international treaties should serve to protect children and young people from sexual violence. The goal is primarily to prevent attacks from occurring in the first place. The protection of children in the digital space, including preventative measures, is particularly important.

These developments show how important it is to create a legal framework that not only concerns perpetrators, but also puts the well-being of those affected at the forefront. Particular attention is paid to ensuring that children's rights and protection obligations are also safeguarded in digital communication. In this context, the upcoming regulation banning the sending of dick pics is a step in the right direction.