Bill targets voyeurism

WASHINGTON -- A key House panel Wednesday approved a bill that would make it a crime to secretly tape a person's private parts and broadcast those images via video or the Internet.

The bill seeks to battle video voyeurism, a crime now easier to commit because of tiny camera cell phones and Webcams.

The legislation from Rep. Michael Oxley would affect secret videotaping only on federal property such as national parks and military bases. Perpetrators would face fines and up to a year in jail.

"I think it's an increasing problem with these video cameras," the Ohio Republican said. "It's an example of a good technology that could be abused if we are not careful."

The House Judiciary Committee passed the bill by voice vote Wednesday, clearing the way for a full House vote soon. A nearly identical version of the bill from Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, already passed the Senate.

Oxley, a former FBI agent, said he has heard of stories across the nation about people being secretly videotaped in locker rooms, dressing rooms and their homes. The lawmaker hopes the bill will be a model for legislation in states.

The Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2003 has pros and cons. It does not let perpetrators off the hook by letting them claim they were taking the images for commercial purposes and not sexual arousal, said Cedric Laurant, spokesman for the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

But Laurant said he wishes the bill would let victims collect damages from people who secretly videotape others' private parts.

On the Web: thomas.loc.gov, the Library of Congress' Thomas legislative Web site search for S. 1301, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2003; www.epic.org, Electronic Privacy Information Center.

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