There is no sexting law in Maryland as of July 2022. However, the law below may be indirectly or directly implicated. Proposed law (2021): HOUSE BILL 180 (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2021RS/bills/hb/hb0180T.pdf) Juveniles – Sexting FOR the purpose of establishing a certain mitigating factor in a certain juvenile court proceeding against a child for a certain violation; requiring and authorizing the juvenile court to take certain actions in making a certain disposition on a certain finding; prohibiting the juvenile court from taking certain actions in making a certain disposition on a certain finding; establishing a certain affirmative defense in a certain juvenile court proceeding for a certain violation; establishing that a child who is found by the juvenile court to have violated a certain provision of law is not subject to certain sex offender registration; defining a certain term; and generally relating to juveniles, obscene matter, and sexting. Revenge porn law:§ 3-809. Revenge porn prohibited
Definitions (a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) “Distribute” means to give, sell, transfer, disseminate, publish, upload, circulate, broadcast, make available, allow access to, or engage in any other form of transmission, electronic or otherwise. (3) “Harm” means: (i) physical injury; (ii) serious emotional distress; or (iii) economic damages. (4) “Intimate parts” means the naked genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female nipple. (5) “Sexual activity” means: (i) sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; (ii) an unnatural or perverted sexual practice under § 3-322 of this title; (iii) masturbation; or (iv) sadomasochistic abuse. Application of section (b)(1) This section does not apply to: (i) lawful and common practices of law enforcement, the reporting of unlawful conduct, or legal proceedings; or (ii) situations involving voluntary exposure in public or commercial settings. (2) An interactive computer service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 230(f)(2), is not liable under this section for content provided by another person. Distribution of a visual representation of another which exposes intimate parts or sexual activity (c) A person may not knowingly distribute a visual representation of another identifiable person that displays the other person with his or her intimate parts exposed or while engaged in an act of sexual activity: (1) with the intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the other person; (2)(i) under circumstances in which the person knew that the other person did not consent to the distribution; or (ii) with reckless disregard as to whether the person consented to the distribution; and (3) under circumstances in which the other person had a reasonable expectation that the image would remain private. Penalty (d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both. Confidentiality of visual representation depicting victim that is part of court records (e) A visual representation of a victim that is part of a court record for a case arising from a prosecution under this section: (1) subject to item (2) of this subsection, may not be made available for public inspection; and (2) except as otherwise ordered by the court, may only be made available for inspection in relation to a criminal charge under this section to: (i) court personnel; (ii) a jury in a criminal case brought under this section; (iii) the State’s Attorney or the State’s Attorney’s designee; (iv) the Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee; (v) a law enforcement officer; (vi) the defendant or the defendant’s attorney; or (vii) the victim or the victim’s attorney.
