Revenge Porn: The Dark Side of Digital Privacy Violations

PNW Haunts & Homicides

In this episode, we dive into the shocking 2016 case of Benjamin Jay Barber, one of the first individuals convicted under Oregon’s groundbreaking ‘revenge porn’ legislation House Bill 2596 — a groundbreaking law criminalizing the unlawful dissemination of intimate images. This and other pivotal cases shed light on the darker corners of the internet, the loopholes in privacy laws, and the consequences of weaponizing intimate content. (Just one of the many reasons that we can’t have nice things).
Barber, sentenced to a mere six months in jail and five years of probation, became a grim example of how revenge porn devastates victims and exposes the urgent need for stronger protections. While his case may have proved a legal landmark, it also revealed significant gaps in enforcement—raising questions about why perpetrators like Barber often avoid being classified as sex offenders. Why do we still struggle to balance free speech with basic human decency? Caitlyn doesn’t hold back as she critiques the societal norms and legal blind spots that let predators exploit others with impunity.
But this isn’t just about one man. In this episode, we also examine the broader cultural and legal implications of cases like Barber's. From the shocking up-skirt photo case at a Target store in Beaverton, Oregon to the broader prevalence of nonconsensual pornography, we explore how systemic failures allow predators to thrive—and what changes are still desperately needed. Listen as we unravel the devastating consequences of these crimes, the problematic gaps in justice, and the role of – you guessed it, the always problematic, patriarchy, in perpetuating these abuses.
This week we introduced you to Ashley from That’s So Fcked Up! A true crime lite podcast about cults, murder and other generally fcked up stuff.
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