Facebook assault film leads to new SA law and jail threat
A new law has come into effect in South Australia imposing jail terms on anyone filming or distributing humiliating or degrading images an posting them online.
The law carries a maximum $10,000 fine
The law, the Summary Offences (Filming Offences) Amendment Act 2012, was triggered by the “king hit” trend, and in particular the 2011 incident at Craigmore High School where children filmed a pre-arranged assault of a fellow student and posted the footage on the internet via Facebook.
"The Government shares the community's concerns regarding the practice of people being deliberately humiliated via the internet," State Attorney General John Rau said.
“Whether it be distributing a private image or video of an ex-partner, or the filming of an assault, you can now expect up to two years in prison."
The amendment makes it an offence to engage in "humiliating or degrading filming" and to distribute an "invasive image".
"It is sickening that some people get their kicks from filming pre-meditated assaults. Most of us these days have a camera in our pockets and are capable of producing high-definition videos or photos," Rau said.
"As technologies change, so must the law."